RESIDENTS of Jacob Hut in Clarendon are appealing to the relevant government agencies to clean a drain in the community which has become a breeding site for mosquitoes.

The residents say the drain is not only a potential health hazard, given the outbreak of Zika virus which is primarily spread by mosquitoes, but is also threatening the operation of a nearby jerk centre, because the stench emanating from it at times.

“It stay bad; it nasty bad, bad,” said Marion Ellis as she and other residents showed the

Jamaica Observer the stagnant water-filled drain, clogged with plastic bags and bottles.

“Dem say dem a guh round and clean drains and wha mosquitoes inna dis a more than sand and sea, and sometime you see worm a wriggle up in there,”Ellis said.

“A night-time, you waa see di mosquitoes dem dat come out from in dere; dem black and big like elephant. If dem nuh clean it di whole Jacob Hut ago full off a Zika,” she added.

Further to that, the 43-year-old chef, who works in the jerk centre, said she fears the public health inspector may order the food establishment closed because of the stench.

Fellow resident, Seth Walters said the drain has not been cleaned for more than a year. To make matters worse, he said, the residents cannot help with cleaning the drain because it is covered with iron grilles.

Ellis, who was in agreement said, “ One time we pull it and it cause problem, dem say a Government alone must clean it.”

Efforts to contact the superintendent of roads and works at the Clarendon Parish Council proved futile as he was said to be out of office.