ST JAMES, Jamaica — From the airport in the west to Iberostar going east, signs of devastation associated with Hurricane Melissa were evident along the Elegant Corridor in St James.

There was noticeable damage to the roofs of a number of properties to include Iberostar and the Jewel Grande. Rehabilitation work is now taking place at Catalonia which was also impacted.

The shopping village across the road from Catalonia also showed significant damage with a number of shops feeling the impact.Health care facility, Hospiten, also had sections of its roof removed in the tempest.

There were signs that there was some flooding in areas but those waters have receded leaving mud lakes along the roadway in different places.

Further to that there were down trees and power lines along the roadway which impeded traffic for many road users who have been going about their business.

For the trees as well, a number of the stately palms that dotted the roadway in their numbers have been broken, bent or removed of all their leaves, leaving them unrecognisable.

However, the full extent of the damage sustained in Jamaica’s primary tourism belt is still unclear. Reports are that assessments are still taking place to give that determination.