Kent Village resident plans to party rain or shine

While most Jamaicans are on edge as Tropical Storm Melissa inches closer to the island, 21-year-old Yashima Thompson from Kent Village, St Catherine, says she can't wait for the downpour to have some fun.

"We enjoy when the road block still because we get fi do likkle event inna the road," she told THE STAR with a broad grin.

"Play music, football, dance and all a dem things deh. As a youngster we enjoy that. Mi all a have a party Saturday," she said, referring to an event dubbed 'Love Mi Dawg Them No Feel a Rum Chat'."

Although the Meteorological Service has indicated potential heavy rains and possible flooding, Yashima has all intention to turn the storm into a water party. Her father, Courtney Thompson, 51, had a more sobering outlook.

"When the rain fall heavy, we can't even walk pon the road because up so full off the bankin side with water and cover from the hill foot go right to the next corner of Kent," he said. He recalled times when the family had to take dangerous detours just to move around.

"One time a through the bush we haffi walk and go pon Sligoville Road and end up inna Bog Walk, or you haffi can swim pon the road," he said.

Residents across Linstead had mixed feelings about the approaching storm.

"Storm come with water and likkle bit a breeze. A just some water we ago get because the storm keep on a mek a turn so a the out band still ago ketch we," one man said casually, explaining that Linstead's terrain makes it both vulnerable and resilient.

"We good a Linstead because we full a sink hole. Is only the river road always a give we trouble over ya, because all the water from this side, a that way it go. Every channel a water haffi go through river road fi go sea -- it nuh have nowhere else fi walk." He added that the lower areas are flood magnets.

While some young people see the storm as an opportunity for excitement, 49-year-old Junet Beech is simply praying for mercy.

"We nuh have nothing fi prepare because we nuh have no money and no food. What we ago do?" she asked, shaking her head. "Some house want zinc and material fi batten down and we nuh have it, so we just haffi survive by the grace a God."

Beech said her community has been hit hard before and residents often get trapped when the rivers rise.

"Water always heavy this side. We block up in here nuff time and can't come out. No food inna the area 'cause the likkle corner shop dem couldn't go inna town fi restock."

She showed the news team where residents had tied barbed wire behind some shops and houses in a desperate attempt to keep floodwaters from entering their yards.