BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth — Members of the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation and a representative of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security on Thursday engaged in a lively debate on whether there should be rebuilding near the shoreline in this south-central town.

Black River was battered by strong winds and high waves from Category 5 Hurricane Melissa on October 28 which damaged or destroyed critical structures including Black River Hospital, schools, the courthouse, commercial buildings, and homes.

Minority leader in the corporation Councillor Donovan Pagon (People’s National Party (PNP), Braes River Division) started the discussion when he asked for clarity on limitations for rebuilding the heritage-rich town.

“Is there any truth to it that there is a hold on rebuilding on the shorelines of Black River. Is there any truth to that?” Pagon asked during the monthly meeting of the corporation held in Santa Cruz at Levon’s Plaza due to inadequate space in Black River and the lack of electricity there.

In response, Mayor of Black River Richard Solomon said an answer could not be provided immediately.

“I don’t think anybody here can speak to that at this point, minority leader, so as we get further information as it relates to the whole development of the space we will communicate that information,” said Solomon.

Chief Executive Officer Errol Lebert chimed in as he sought to explain that any applications for rebuilding will take a “multi-agency approach”.

“It is not one institution or agency’s decision to say ‘no’ or ‘yes’. However, we get comments from various agencies to say persons have sent in their building applications and we will give them the specific response,” said Lebert.

Solomon added to Lebert’s response as he indicated that the municipality is willing to do some level of building approval in the interim.

“What we are prepared to do in circumstances like these, once they meet the necessary criteria, is to do some pre-conditional approval to facilitate a redevelopment… The other agencies still have to do their due diligence, but in terms of getting up economic activities we can look at cases and where necessary we do discretionary approval,” said the mayor.

Lebert said the staff complement of more than 60 people in the municipal corporation have had to work in less than ideal conditions and on a flexi work week from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm daily.

Former Mayor of Black River Everton Fisher (PNP, Balaclava Division) urged Lebert to write to the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government Marsha Henry-Martin for provisions to be made for suitable facilities for the corporation.

“I think what we need to do for January is put us in a position where we can meet in a better setting… staff have said to me that the condition they are working in now is not good [in terms] of bathroom [facilities] and water [accessibility]. There are many challenges and a lot of people are just trying to make ends meet so that the corporation can run,” said Fisher.

Following the meeting, Solomon told journalists that the municipal corporation will remain in Black River rather than move permanently to Santa Cruz.

“We are not leaving Black River. We are going to build back stronger in that space… It is just something to sort of live with [for] a short space of time. As it relates to rebuilding it is a process. Nobody can expect, as it relates to building back better, that it is something that will be done immediately,” said Solomon.

“There are a lot of processes involved in scoping, proper planning, so it is not something that will be done overnight, it is a process. We are still in the clean-up phase,” he added.

Solomon said a “scaled down” Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony is tentatively set for December 22 in Black River.