MILK RIVER, Clarendon — As he made wide arcs around his body with a makeshift torch he was depending on to ward off mosquitoes, 72-year-old Anthony Lewis wryly admitted that he had already lost the battle to keep the pesky insects from sucking his blood.

“[Mosquitoes are present] every night and morning, straight through — wi can’t ease up mi bredda. Nothing nuh lef’ inna mi. All dem man deh weh seh dem a come spray mosquito, a now dem fi come spray dem. You nuh si nobody,” he told the Jamaica Observer during a visit to Milk River, Clarendon, on Sunday.

Lewis sat outside, in the darkness that enveloped the community that is still a long way to recovering from Hurricane Beryl. Like many across the country, the residents’ ire is aimed at power provider Jamaica Public Service (JPS).

“Everything depends on JPS. NWC [National Water Commission] can’t function without JPS, Flow said they can’t function without JPS, so everything depends on JPS. JPS said they would come yesterday [Saturday]. We are just in limbo,” general manager of Milk River Hotel and Mineral Spa Diane Sommerville told the Observer during a quick site visit.

“Our staff is at home; their income and ours is affected. We would have between 20 to 100 guests per day but, as you can see, this is the story,” she said, referencing the emptiness and inactivity on the compound.

Sommerville explained that, even with a generator, the attraction would be limited as NWC relies on JPS to be able to pump water.

“We had a generator but we had a problem with it; we’re trying to get it repaired. But even if we get it up, that’s all we have,” she pointed out.

A walk-through of the community revealed downed electrical poles. Residents have been relying on Milk River Police Station and other neighbours with generators to assist them to recharge their cellphones, laptops, and portable fluorescent lamps. Still, there are challenges with making phone calls and accessing the Internet as telecommunications systems have been compromised.

Hugh Darlington — a resident of the community who invested $2 million in solar panels in 2022 — told the Observer that he is happy to assist his neighbours, although he has to be cautious about just how much support he gives.

“It is a bittersweet moment for those who live around me… Even today, I have to decide that I am not taking in any laptops and phones because it dips the battery; I had to plug out my fridge and freezer last night to save some energy. But then, you have to try and help people because they want their phone and laptop to use,” he stated.

Along with the absence of electricity, residents’ despair and health concerns have been further complicated as they have to contend with an infestation of mosquitoes, especially at night. They resort to mini fires to help them ward off the mosquitoes, or to hand-held torches like the one Lewis was using.

He is warning that the misery he and his neighbours are experiencing will be passed on to politicians at the polls.

“Mi sorry fi them fi the election ya massa,” he said, making reference to the Member of Parliament for Clarendon South Western Lothan Cousins and councillor for the Milk River Division, Carlton Bailey.

The spa’s Sommerville was also critical of the Government’s response. She wants the Ministry of Health and Wellness to address the situation with urgency.

“Ministry of Health not doing anything until dengue and malaria start to break out. They are reactive. We are going to suffer,” she lamented.