Parottee residents seek urgent help seven months after Hurricane Melissa

Seven months after Hurricane Melissa tore through Parottee, residents in the St. Elizabeth seaside community say they are still struggling to rebuild homes and businesses while facing the threat of another major weather system.

The category five hurricane caused severe damage in the community, where the Caribbean Sea and a pond running through the area left some homes exposed to flooding. Residents say recovery has been slow, and several people remain without the money or land needed to start over.

Fish vendor Portia Barnes said the storm wiped out stock and equipment at a time when vendors were already preparing for slower sales. She said she lost two freezers of fish, including one that ended up in a mango tree. Barnes explained that vendors often take fish on credit during slow periods to maintain relationships with fishermen ahead of the Christmas season.

She said a purchase of 1,000 pounds of fish would previously have cost about $700,000, but prices have risen since the hurricane because fishermen are trying to rebuild capital.

Barnes also said her boat tour business has suffered. She previously took visitors from Parottee to Floyd’s Pelican Bar, but said customers have been lost because her boat has not been available. A colleague whose boat is operating has helped keep some tours going while Barnes receives assistance to repair her own vessel.

Housing remains another major concern. Austin Williams pointed to the home he once occupied, saying it is still affected by water. He said the site is too salty and was not properly filled to withstand rebuilding safely.

Some residents are still staying at the community centre shelter, including a family of four. Others want to move but lack the funds to do so. Residents also said the sea took away land during the hurricane season, leaving some people with nowhere to rebuild.

One resident described the experience as unforgettable and said recovery has been difficult, with many relying on faith as the next hurricane season brings fresh anxiety.