A potential danger to the health of residents in housing units at Golden Grove Meadows in St Thomas is developing as cries for assistance from government agencies continue to go unaddressed.

The residents, once occupants of Golden Grove Barracks and Ivan Housing Scheme in Duckensfield, claimed in a Jamaica Observer interview last week that an uncovered manhole, a poorly planned landscape and an underdeveloped sewerage system have caused several members in the community to fall ill.

The Observer was unable to reach Minister of Agriculture Karl Samuda, while the Ministry of Health promised that it would respond “shortly”.

“Right now, in the community, we having diarrhoea and vomiting and I think that it is the heavy rain and the overflowing of the manhole caused that,” Janet Russell, who indicated that she always speaks on behalf of the community, said.

She explained that whenever it rains heavily, as was the case up to late last month, the water, because of the community landscape, settles in several yards and houses and sometimes take up to a week to evaporate.

“You have big people with it (illness) and some of the kids with it. When we came up here we weren’t having that issue, but later on we started having the issue. We also have a crocodile [in the community]. People saw it down by where the pit is,” Russell said.

The 120 residents were temporarily relocated from the rundown barracks in Golden Grove to the units after signing contracts with the Government in September 2016 to reduce risks associated with Hurricane Matthew, which, at the time, threatened the island.

However, the residents insisted that they had no intention of leaving, even though the houses did not have electricity, water, or a functioning sewerage system.

“We are having all kinds of problems. When they flush the toilets it doesn’t go down and that has to do with the sewerage [system]. Other people could tell you but most of them not here; dem at work,” said the woman, who has been living in the housing scheme for just over a year.

Another resident, Tamra Watson, is insisting that the houses were not properly built and as a result several are falling apart. She told the Observer that water from heavy rain settles under several units, causing walls to crack and the breeding of mosquitoes.

“The major problem a di landscaping. We need some relevant authority fi come and check out dem problem here. When dem come and wi talk it coming like a just joke. Dem nuh care,” Watson claimed.

“Mi likkle cousin she just a vomit and a pass faeces and she nuh eat nothing. What mi think is [that] the big sewerage down the bottom [of the community] is the one that needs sorting out because they build it on a spring area so the water not going anywhere. When you check the water cover all three filters. Crocodile deh down there; a down there him live,” she added.

The woman said that the single drain known to community members is clogged and needs urgent cleaning. She said that children often play in the area, adding that the environment is hazardous.

“Is only the councillor Mr [Michael] McLeod always helping us and it is a big [division] so he can’t always come. We need Mr Christopher Tufton (health minister) to come look at it. We spend a lot on Zika and CHIKV and it is threatening to happen again. Mr Samuda, you also need to do something. We cannot continue to live like this. People are sick and more will be soon if this problem isn’t fixed.

“We nuh want the diseases. We ‘fraid of it and the children can catch it and that is the main problem,” said Watson.

Viveen Reid, who said her yard becomes waterlogged whenever it rains heavily, is pleading for assistance to redevelop her yard space.

“All the water come and stop right in my yard. If you look at my house you see how far the water comes up. A nuh joke me a make. Mi need help! Mi speak to people about it; the man dem weh used to look bout the place. Dem write down and nothing happen. Mi just want somebody come take wi out a di water. Mi affi come out wid fork inna night already and a dig fi get rid of the water. Do something to the road so that wi can get rid of the water out of di yard,” Reid begged.

Anthony Barnes is having a similar problem. He told the Observer that his home is inaccessible whenever it rains.

“You can see the morass after the water settles. It’s a major concern ’cause you never know what can happen. If the water settles it can cause all kind of disease. Something affi happen. Kids are here,” Barnes said.