MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Councillors in this south-central parish say an announcement that Members of Parliament (MPs) are to be allocated funds as part of relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl is not enough.

The councillors, from both sides of the political divide, painted a grim picture of the devastation caused by Beryl just over one week ago when strong winds ripped off roofs and flattened houses in southern parishes.

Despite a warning from Mandeville Mayor Donovan Mitchell to stay clear of making comparisons between themselves and MPs, the councillors demanded attention from the Government through the Ministry of Local Government to prioritise allocations.

“For those who raise the matter of how much money the MPs, get, let me remind you, you are not a MP. Central government is responsible for MPs. Local government is responsible for councillors,” said Mitchell.

But Councillor Mario Mitchell (People’s National Party, Bellefield Division) argued that councillors were among the first responders during and after the hurricane to clear roads and provide relief support.

“It is unacceptable that…up to eight days after a hurricane there is nothing that has been allocated to the councillors. Most of us have been on the road before and during [the hurricane]. When the storm passed we were out on Thursday with the people clearing roads, it was not the NWA [National Works Agency]; it was me, the councillor, and the people of the Bellefield Division that cleared every single road,” said Marion Mitchell.

“In almost every community people have damage to their roofs… We can’t be granted emergency funds and there are so many specifications as to how we spend, because the need now is for people to get assistance with zinc and assistance with their roof and what is given now is tarpaulin. We can’t be using tarpaulin now a week after the hurricane,” added the councillor.

He calculated the allocations made to MPs to highlight his point.

“A Member of Parliament to date has received up to either $13 million or $15 million, councillors zero. Every councillor across this country… has been to the communities. Some MPs nuh reach a dem constituency yet. Most of us live in our divisions. People came to our homes when we got that 40 food vouchers… It is unacceptable for us to wait close to two weeks to hear something, and if I see the minister, [Desmond McKenzie], I will tell him that also,” said Mario Mitchell.

Minority leader, Councillor Omar Miller (Jamaica Labour Party, Craighead Division) said citizens are facing hardship and are asking their councillors for help.

“People are under some serious pressure and I think… we have to pay keen attention to people who are definitely in need,” said Miller.

“I hear allocations being granted to the Member of Parliament. I know you are saying that we must not touch it, but the truth of the matter is as councillors we have a responsibility as well, and being the boots on the ground, people are not asking if Members of Parliament are getting help, they are saying you are the representative,” added Miller.

He said while Manchester North Eastern MP Audley Shaw has provided support, more is needed.

“I know my MP is a generous one as it relates to assisting, but I believe as a councillor there are some things that we need as well,” he said.

Councillor Iceval “Cherry” Brown (Jamaica Labour Party, Grove Town Division) told the meeting that people in southern Manchester are suffering.

“In my division everything is gone. When it comes to crops, there is nothing left. Shop tops, house tops, most of them gone. The homes that are stable right now are the deck [concrete] ones, but the ones that have on zinc, most of them mash up. Right now I have about five homeless people in my division. There are two homes that are flat on the ground. Nothing can be recovered,” said Brown.

“There are a lot of people, I don’t know how we are going to reach them. They are in the bush. Some of those people have not been assessed and they are there suffering,” she added.

Mayor Mitchell told councillors that Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie was scheduled to tour south Manchester on Friday.

“People have lost property. People are suffering in some areas. The minister will be going into the southern part of the parish, which has gotten most of the hit,” he said.

DONOVAN MITCHELL… central government is responsible for MPs, local government is responsible for councillors (Observer File)

BROWN…… some of those people have not been assessed and they are there suffering