Christmas treat for hurricane-battered Catherine Hall, Westgreen

Western Bureau:

The neighbouring communities of Westgreen and Catherine Hall in Montego Bay, St James, which experienced major flooding during the passage of Hurricane Melissa in October, got a much-welcomed Christmas treat over last weekend, thanks to a joint venture by the Montego Bay Freezone (MBFZ) and Global Services of Jamaica (GSAJ).

‘There are a lot of young people here at the free zone who are living in this community, and so we were reaching out to offer a helping hand,” said Gloria Henry, the vice-president of business process outsourcing (BPO) and logistics at the Port Authority of Jamaica.

“We just want to give a little spirit of Christmas to the residents.”

The two communities were considered ‘ground zero’ after the hurricane as they were partially covered in mud, which flowed freely in the community as the Barnett River breached its banks. The ground floors of most of the homes were left buried under silt, and several cars were submerged.

The treat, which was staged at a cost of J$3.5 million, saw some 350 residents given care packages, clothing, Christmas cakes, refreshments, and some 160 gifts were presented to children, alongside counselling and a rich entertainment package.

The fun and frolic started from as early as 9:30 a.m., as residents were provided with free transportation to the MBFZ compound to benefit from the various offerings. The transportation was provided by the boards of directors of the MBFZ and GSAJ, alongside clients and partners. The Kingston Free Zone donated 100 of the 350 care packages that were given out.

“We have a closet with a lot of new and used clothing for the residents. They are allowed to pick two items per person from the closet,” Henry told The Gleaner, which was on location for the treat.

It was all fun as parents joined their children on the various rides, while also enjoying the cotton candy and popcorn that were on offer.

“I think this holiday season, people are just floating through it. We are trying to get the spirit, but I think we are in such a haze,” said Lynda Langford, vice-president of GSAJ. “I think just to bring a little cheer to our communities is so vitally important, because it is the time of the year when you give back to one another.”

As it relates to mental health, Langford said while physical recovery is often prioritised, mental health is equally crucial for the overall well-being of affected persons.

“So many of us were traumatised by the hurricane, and I think we go through our day-to-day process trying to muddle through it,” she said. “Mental health we tend to push aside and not concentrate on, whether out of embarrassment or not wanting to admit we need help. Our mental well-being is vitally important for us to be physically fit, too,” added Langford.

The grateful residents were not shy in expressing their gratitude for the kind gesture, which has brought them much joy after many weeks of sheer frustration as they try to rebound from the damage caused by the hurricane.

“The treat will lift the spirit of the community, because some people lost everything. The spirits were low, especially for the children who have no access to the digital world and are out of school since the hurricane,” said Shenelle Cope, a resident of Catherine Hall.

“I live in a three-storey building and Melissa threw our 400-gallon tank in-between the roofing. My brother lost everything on the first floor, and the second and third floors were like a waterfall inside.”

As for Dane Harvey, a resident of Westgreen, the gesture has not only provided hope, but created a sense of unity among residents.

“My daughter lost all of her toys and kept saying she wanted to build a castle with her bricks of toys. Now she got a bowling set that can keep her and her sister company,” said Harvey.

“The treat uplifted us by showing that there is hope within the country.”

ashley.anguin@gleanerjm.com