BY KASEY WILLIAMS

Observer staff reporter

kaseyw@jamaicaobserver.com

ALLIGATOR POND, Manchester
—
With Hurricane Beryl expected to make landfall on Jamaica today there are mixed views from residents of Alligator Pond in south Manchester on the possibility of evacuating their homes and businesses.

Mayor of Mandeville Donovan Mitchell on Tuesday urged residents of Alligator Pond to be ready to move to higher ground once the need arises.

“I want to make a special appeal to the citizens of Alligator Pond that they prepare themselves to move out, because based on the projected path of Hurricane Beryl, the eye of it is likely to pass directly over the Alligator Pond area, which means there will be a whole lots of breeze and a whole lot of water. We are [appealing] to them, because if not we are going to have to ask the police or the army to have the people evacuated from that area,” he said.

Harris Witter, an Alligator Pond fisherman, told the
Jamaica Observer that fisherfolk are not taking any chances with Beryl.

“We cannot afford to lose the fish pot, so whether the storm a come or it nah come, we secured the traps for the next four to five days. We carry in all the boats too for safety. We prepared as best as we can,” he said.

However, Susan, a fish vendor in Alligator Pond, was adamant on Tuesday evening that she will stay put on the coastline to protect her property and belongings.

“Me nah move. Dem seh we stubborn, but we not moving. When you go weh leave your things who deh here to watch them? Me nah leave, because as a family we a stick together. We not leaving not even one behind,” she said before being challenged by a fisherman.

The 27-year-old fisherman, who identified himself as Sinclair, argued that he is willing to leave his board house behind to protect his family.

“Me a plan fi move me, my woman and pickney and go far from the sea. I am afraid of the sea as it can move the house. When hurricanes hit down here the place mash up and the sea rough. From what I am hearing this hurricane a nuh nutten normal. We haffi plan for this one the right way,” he said.

Evrol “Blackie” Christian, owner of Little Ochi Seafood Restaurant, also said he wasn’t taking any chances with Beryl and was prepared to move to higher ground, as high as Mandeville.

“If evacuation is necessary we are going to the New Forest School and probably we will end up in Mandeville once it hits the point we are running. A lot of people are prepared to move. Nobody not taking chances like before, because the last one we sat and was watching and we ended up sorry. We are not taking any chance, we are going to higher ground,” he said.

Mayor Mitchell said the homeless in Mandeville will be housed at Mandeville Primary School, which is a designated shelter.

“The mental health team will be in charge of that shelter to make sure they are okay. The infirmary is up and running. We are asking the people of the parish to take precautions,” he said.