FOR more than 30 years, residents of Comsee, St Mary, say they have been appealing to the authorities for legal electricity, but to date, they are still without the basic service. .

“We get light through the bush, but as rain fall tree drop pon it and dem say it is illegal,” one resident, Theresa Forrest, told the Jamaica Observer North and East.

Another resident of the area, Viola Shaw, said that others have to depend on other sources for energy.

“I came here in 1986 and I did not see no light. We have to buy kerosene oil, flashlight and batteries,” she charged.

Shaw explained that the situation has remained the same throughout the years, driving many residents away from the community.

“People come in to purchase and lease land and from dem find out no light, dem say it no make sense,” Shaw argued.

She said a man who was in the process of purchasing land in the community stopped the transaction as soon as he found out that there was no electricity in the area.

The disgruntled resident said she, too, had tried to sell her land to get away from the community.

“Time and time again mi ask people if dem want it and dem say no light no down deh,” she explained.

“We hungry and thirsty for it,” Shaw added.

Shaw informed that Comsee residents are anxiously awaiting the electricity supply to the 900-metre stretch of wire recently installed under the Ministry of Energy’s Rural Electrification Programme (REP).

Joyce Smith, who has lived in the community since 1995, said she feels like giving up and leaving like others have. Smith said the lack of electricity has resulted in a number of petty crimes in the area.

“Dem cook in my house, dem sleep in deh. Because is me alone live, mi no comfortable,” she said.

Many residents of Comee indicated to the ObserverNorth and East news team that they have paid money to have electrical work done in their homes and are now waiting for the process to begin.