MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Councillors on both sides of the political aisle here on Thursday painted a grim picture of the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa last month and insisted that an allocation of $250,000 made to each councillor before the storm hit Jamaica is not enough.

“The ministry [of local government] has to do better. The Government has to do better. Councillors have to be involved. There are 230 of us. Nobody knows the country better than we do. It is pathetic that when it comes to election we go to every place, labour of PNP (People’s National Party), because we a look vote, so why is it that you are saying it is time to give something is only certain people can get… and the councillors don’t get,” Mayor of Mandeville Donovan Mitchell said at the monthly sitting of the Manchester Municipal Corporation.

“Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars can’t buy 10 sheets of zinc for some people…” he added.

Mitchell, PNP councillor for the Royal Flat Division, said promises made from last year in preparation for Hurricane Beryl were not kept by the Ministry of Local Government.

“From Beryl I have taken a particular stance. Prior to Beryl we were told that each councillor could get or should spend up to $500,000 to help [residents] prior to and after the hurricane and up until now, one year later, councillors have not received those funds,” he said.

He compared the allocations made to Members of Parliament to that of councillors.

“We have now gotten another correspondence about $250,000… The Members of Parliament, who are also elected, have been given funds, funds upon funds and prior, during, and after [Hurricane Melissa] and some of them have spent and you don’t hear no quarrelling and all that, but you hear that you must send names and telephone numbers…” said Mitchell.

“Sometimes we wonder if we are children of a lesser God as councillors, because when a citizen’s housetop is blown off and you can’t help them you can empathise with them, but faith without works is dead,” added Mitchell.

He also said the assessment of damaged buildings is moving at a slow pace and complained about a lack of “synergy” between Government agencies in the relief and rebuilding response.

“People are suffering and at the pace at which the assessment is being done, come next year this time some people’s houses will [still] not be assessed,” he said while calling for a review of building codes.

“There has to be a rethinking of housing and building codes as to how houses are built within the tropical area. You can’t just put in back a house top, because if the breeze comes next year the house top is gone again,” he said.

“Where we can slap or deck. I think it is the time for us to go that way, because we are in the hurricane belt,” added Mitchell.

Minority leader Councillor Omar Miller (Jamaica Labour Party, Craighead Division) joined Mitchell in calling for more allocations for councillors.

“Normally, I would defend my party to the T, but [I] along with the rest of councillors here have not received not one red cent. When I go into my division, people are not looking for me to send them to somebody else. They are looking for me to help them, [because] they voted for me. I think it is very disrespectful at this particular time when we go through the houses and see the condition of people, and you cannot help them. I feel hurt,” he said.

Councillor Karl Smith (PNP, Knockpatrick Division) agreed.

“And so say all of us,” he said, while joining colleagues in knocking the meeting table.

Deputy Mayor and Councillor Rohan Kennedy (PNP, Mile Gully Division) said his constituents were severely affected by Hurricane Melissa. He said if an adequate allocation is not provided to assist residents he is prepared to pledge his salary to assist those in dire need.

MILLER… normally, I would defend my party to the T, but [I] along with the rest of councillors here have not received not one red cent