MONTEGO BAY, St James — Mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon is assuring residents that the Hurricane Melissa-ravaged western parish will recover stronger.

In an interview with the Jamaica Observer on Thursday Vernon said St James will bounce back especially through its citizens.

“We will be cleaner than we were before, we will be better than we were before because we are a resilient people, so I am encouraging people to hold strain, stay strong, support their neighbours,” said Vernon.

Like other south-western parishes, St James was severely impacted by Melissa which damaged buildings, destroyed the telecommunications and electrical infrastructure, downed trees and power lines, and left scores of people homeless, with some feared dead.

“St James is devastated and we have lost a lot. I believe that in the end when we have done the recon, what we have lost — between private and public assets — along with infrastructure, are moving into the billions [of dollars],” said Vernon.

“However, that is not our priority right now. Our priority is to ensure that relief is sent to the people in need. Many people have been displaced. I can’t give you the numbers as yet; we are still unable to reach some of our shelters,” Vernon lamented.

He promised that work will be done through today to reach those areas so that the people who are there can be assisted as best as possible.

“We should reach to all shelters by tomorrow [Friday] as we are clearing the roadways to reach to them,

“We have cleared the city centre and major roadways this far, and we are moving now to ensure that the supplies to the shelters are delivered and the residents there are given the necessary attention by the health services,” added Vernon.

But even as he mourned the suffering caused by Melissa the mayor is looking beyond the disaster.

“We can’t do anything about Melissa [which] pass and gone. Now it’s time to pick up the pieces and move forward and that is what we will do,” said Vernon.

“I can’t speak for anybody else but I know that Montego Bay [and the rest of St James] is going to recover stronger,” the mayor declared.

He explained that external support is something that St James will benefit from, given the partnerships that exists with others.

“It must be noted that we can’t do this without international support, regional support, national support and community support but I believe that we have that support and once we put our efforts in the right direction we will be okay, we will recover stronger,” said Vernon, who pointed out that Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica José María Fernández López de Turisohas already visited the city and discussions are under way for what that could mean for the parish.

One of the many damaged buildings in Montego Bay, St James.

A motor car damaged by a section of a downed tree in St James.