ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Member of Parliament (MP) for St Elizabeth North Eastern, Zuleika Jess, says she has delivered hope to some constituents who were marooned in their communities due to debris and damaged roadways.

Speaking at the People’s National Party’s (PNP) press conference on Monday, Jess had declared her intention to make the “difficult decision” of defying the Government’s directive against using private means to clear roads, in an attempt to save lives.

On Wednesday, Jess told Jamaica Observer that she immediately acted on her announcement, clearing and reconstructing roads for some communities and providing aid to residents who had been cut off from the rest of the island, since the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28.

“I went ahead and I hired private contractors who came in and cleared (Top) Burnt Ground, which includes Abraham Road. They also cleared Horton Avenue in Southampton. Horton Avenue had some holes in the road, which were almost 20 feet in depth. So we had to engage contractors in order to get the people to be able to leave from their communities because they were marooned. We have also done the Grass Piece community. So we did quite a number of the roadways here. Most of them have been cleared,” she said.

Jess added that her funds alone were still not adequate to provide relief to all and she has reached out to the Government once more to mobilise the National Works Agency (NWA) to help in those areas where people are still marooned.

“I have not been able to do the Park Mountain area, so I’m hoping that the Government will send them some help. I have spoken to them about sending NWA, so I’m hoping that that will be done in very short order,” she said.

According to Jess, her constituents are on the road to recovery as many are now able to leave ravaged communities to seek food, shelter, and medical aid.

“They’re doing far better now because the truth is, the people of north eastern St Elizabeth are strong and resilient. Once you give them an opportunity to make a way, they’re going to find a way. So once we went in, cleared the way, and in some cases reconstructed the road so that they can at least travel on it, they are finding ways and means.

“It’s not easy because they are still in need of food supplies. Some needs are [still there] but at least the situation is not as dire as before. They can leave the communities and get medical attention for the elderly persons who need to get to doctors,” said Jess.

– Renae Osbourne