Bahamas News
09-30-04, - 04:07 AM
A Cry For Help
Residents of the Mud plead for government assistance
By TAMARA McKENZIE
The Nassau Guardian
http://www.bahamasissues.com/images/news/DSC_9347.jpg
MARSH HARBOUR, Abaco — "We need Prime Minister Perry Christie to help us" was the cry of many residents of The Mud on Tuesday, the predominantly Haitian village that has been reduced to further squalor and poverty as a result of Hurricane Jeanne's battering.
The possessions of some residents there have been reduced to the clothes on their backs, and when The Guardian news team visited the cramped dwellings, the cry for help was echoed. However, the leaky and roofless houses, mildewed furniture, frantic facial expressions, and claims of unemployment, underscored the need for assistance.
Eva Caruso, a Haitian-Bahamian, said the government has repeatedly ignored The Mud's residents, always overlooking them after hurricanes.
"I don't know, but God needs to give the Prime Minister a chance to tend to the people in The Mud and move the people out of there. Everybody here has the same problem, and a lot of people are ready to move."
"I am not working and I lost everything. I don't know where I will find money to buy some things. This is why I am talking to you, and I hope God gives the Prime Minister a chance to help the people. I have nothing, baby," said Ms Caruso, rocking her one-year old child in her arms, whom she claimed had eaten nothing for the day.
Ms Caruso also said although she had lived in The Mud for the past 15 years and experienced much flooding as a result of hurricanes, Hurricane Jeanne brought the most flooding and destruction.
"There were many hurricanes, [such as] Floyd, and I never see something like that. I lost everything — TV, radio, VCR, bedroom, front room, everything," she said.
Margaret Meritelle, a resident of The Mud since 1979, said since Hurricane Jeanne, she has been living in a church shelter and desperately needed supplies from the government to fix her home. "I am sleeping in the church because I have no where to sleep, no bed, no nothing. I need some clothes, plywood, and shingles," she pleaded.
Mrs Meritelle, flanked by her husband, also said she was unemployed and her husband only worked occasionally as a gardener, as he was always sick.
Asked if she wanted to move, Mrs Meritelle expressed that she badly wanted to do so, but found it difficult to save money to purchase "good" land that was not low-lying. "As soon as I get money, money gone," she said.
Entering the village, one could not miss the mangled home of Viercla Louis, demolished by Hurricane Jeanne. The contents, including a visible flat screen television on top a dresser, had been totally drenched with floodwater. However, Mrs Louis seemed to be upbeat. She said after Hurricane Jeanne, the water level in her house was just below her shin.
"I cried and cried and cried, but I am OK now because I am not dead. I am now living with somebody in the back," she said.
The Guardian was also pulled into the once four-bedroom dwelling of Tazi Orelien, who said she too had lost everything. "I live in the back here, and I don't have nothing," she said, raising her arms over her head. However, Ms Orelien attempted to salvage clothes, rugs and bed sheets that hung on a nearby fence.
Also evident was a number of children in the area who were clueless as to when they would return to school. Shadline Joseph, a tenth grader at the Abaco Central High said she did not when she would return to school, as she had lost all of her books and clothing. "We came home and met everything upside down, and all my clothes are gone," she said.
Allette Orlien, another student, also expressed that she had lost all school supplies and was anxious to return to "catch up" on those missed weeks following Hurricane Frances.
Speaking with The Guardian on Monday, Minister of Immigration, Vincent Peet, expressed that he is aware of the conditions plaguing those in The Mud and Pigeon Pea, especially during the hurricane season. He said the area is very "low-lying," and correcting the situation has been a challenge for many years. "I am sure that the government will look at it [Haitian situation] again, and we will be acting on advice once all the facts are in, but the previous government had the same challenge, and we are now faced with the same challenge. But we will be looking at how we can meet the challenge and prepare in the most humane way to deal with those who are living there legally, and do whatever is necessary to deal with those living illegally," he said.
Mr Peet said the National Management Emergency Agency would also do whatever is necessary to assist Bahamians and residents in the country, and he does not expect there to be a lack of assistance for any concerned, including those living in The Mud.
Residents of the Mud plead for government assistance
By TAMARA McKENZIE
The Nassau Guardian
http://www.bahamasissues.com/images/news/DSC_9347.jpg
MARSH HARBOUR, Abaco — "We need Prime Minister Perry Christie to help us" was the cry of many residents of The Mud on Tuesday, the predominantly Haitian village that has been reduced to further squalor and poverty as a result of Hurricane Jeanne's battering.
The possessions of some residents there have been reduced to the clothes on their backs, and when The Guardian news team visited the cramped dwellings, the cry for help was echoed. However, the leaky and roofless houses, mildewed furniture, frantic facial expressions, and claims of unemployment, underscored the need for assistance.
Eva Caruso, a Haitian-Bahamian, said the government has repeatedly ignored The Mud's residents, always overlooking them after hurricanes.
"I don't know, but God needs to give the Prime Minister a chance to tend to the people in The Mud and move the people out of there. Everybody here has the same problem, and a lot of people are ready to move."
"I am not working and I lost everything. I don't know where I will find money to buy some things. This is why I am talking to you, and I hope God gives the Prime Minister a chance to help the people. I have nothing, baby," said Ms Caruso, rocking her one-year old child in her arms, whom she claimed had eaten nothing for the day.
Ms Caruso also said although she had lived in The Mud for the past 15 years and experienced much flooding as a result of hurricanes, Hurricane Jeanne brought the most flooding and destruction.
"There were many hurricanes, [such as] Floyd, and I never see something like that. I lost everything — TV, radio, VCR, bedroom, front room, everything," she said.
Margaret Meritelle, a resident of The Mud since 1979, said since Hurricane Jeanne, she has been living in a church shelter and desperately needed supplies from the government to fix her home. "I am sleeping in the church because I have no where to sleep, no bed, no nothing. I need some clothes, plywood, and shingles," she pleaded.
Mrs Meritelle, flanked by her husband, also said she was unemployed and her husband only worked occasionally as a gardener, as he was always sick.
Asked if she wanted to move, Mrs Meritelle expressed that she badly wanted to do so, but found it difficult to save money to purchase "good" land that was not low-lying. "As soon as I get money, money gone," she said.
Entering the village, one could not miss the mangled home of Viercla Louis, demolished by Hurricane Jeanne. The contents, including a visible flat screen television on top a dresser, had been totally drenched with floodwater. However, Mrs Louis seemed to be upbeat. She said after Hurricane Jeanne, the water level in her house was just below her shin.
"I cried and cried and cried, but I am OK now because I am not dead. I am now living with somebody in the back," she said.
The Guardian was also pulled into the once four-bedroom dwelling of Tazi Orelien, who said she too had lost everything. "I live in the back here, and I don't have nothing," she said, raising her arms over her head. However, Ms Orelien attempted to salvage clothes, rugs and bed sheets that hung on a nearby fence.
Also evident was a number of children in the area who were clueless as to when they would return to school. Shadline Joseph, a tenth grader at the Abaco Central High said she did not when she would return to school, as she had lost all of her books and clothing. "We came home and met everything upside down, and all my clothes are gone," she said.
Allette Orlien, another student, also expressed that she had lost all school supplies and was anxious to return to "catch up" on those missed weeks following Hurricane Frances.
Speaking with The Guardian on Monday, Minister of Immigration, Vincent Peet, expressed that he is aware of the conditions plaguing those in The Mud and Pigeon Pea, especially during the hurricane season. He said the area is very "low-lying," and correcting the situation has been a challenge for many years. "I am sure that the government will look at it [Haitian situation] again, and we will be acting on advice once all the facts are in, but the previous government had the same challenge, and we are now faced with the same challenge. But we will be looking at how we can meet the challenge and prepare in the most humane way to deal with those who are living there legally, and do whatever is necessary to deal with those living illegally," he said.
Mr Peet said the National Management Emergency Agency would also do whatever is necessary to assist Bahamians and residents in the country, and he does not expect there to be a lack of assistance for any concerned, including those living in The Mud.