Sunday, August 19th, 2007...3:29 pm
Facing Dean’s wrath on the cays … Foolhardy fishers remain on Pedro Cays
Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer
As Jamaica’s south east coast began feeling the first effects of Hurricane Dean this morning, a small group of Jamaicans were already having a far worse experience.
Urgent calls started coming in to the mainland from a small group of men and women marooned on the Pedro Cays, more than 50 miles to the South, and facing the brunt of the assault from the category four hurricane.
Opposition Leader Bruce Golding, who received one of the calls for help, told The Gleaner that he subsequently contacted the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and was told to convey to the group the army’s permission to break into its Coast Guard building on Middle Cay (one of three that make up the Pedro Cays chain) and take shelter there.
Sean Taylor, vice-chairman of the Jamaica Fishermen’s Cooperative, said that calls started coming in from as early as nine o’clock in the morning from the marooned group.
“They started calling relatives and friends saying things were getting more difficult than they expected” he said.
An obviously upset Taylor said that this need not have happened because all persons on the cays were put on notice by the JDF a week ago to leave the cays ahead of the onset of the hurricane.
“We are always adamant that whenever the warning is posted by the officials you must heed it and make the necessary preparations. The Coast Guard commander should forcefully remove them. They should see to it that they leave” he said.
Ironically, Mr. Taylor said, some of those who remained on the cays for this hurricane also ignored similar warning to leave during the passage of Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and narrowly escaped death on that occasion.
This practice of ignoring such dire warnings was a matter of great concern, said Mr. Golding.
“In the future we may need to be more forceful; we perhaps need to enact legislation to give the Coast Guard authority to lift people from the cays even when they are reluctant to leave,” he said.
It is a position that is shared by Dean Peart, the minister responsible for disaster preparation and response.
The necessary legislation to permit mandatory evacuation in such circumstances had been drafted and was now awaiting Cabinet consideration, he said.
The same challenges were being encountered in several of the most vulnerable communities along the south coast, he said, with residents refusing to leave their homes and go to designated shelters.
Responding to the self-inflicted plight of the Pedro Cays group, Mr. Peart said “This is a regular thing. Who is going to send a helicopter at this time to take them home? When you see a category five hurricane approaching you must move! They are blasted mad!” the minister said, with characteristic frankness.
12 Comments
August 19th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
It is extremely difficult to understand why some people do not follow instructions.Although asked and offered the opportunity to evacuate the Pedro Cays, a group of fishermen and women refused,despite the grave danger.Hopefully, these fisher folks will be able to survive this dangerous and deadly hurricane.Jamaicans including myself are praying for them,but Mr. Dean Peart and Mr.Bruce Golding are totally correct in terms of enacting and legislating mandatory evacuation policies with regard to future hurricanes.
August 19th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
These people ought to know better. How could a group of people be so moronic? Do they understand the meaning of evacuation? I was very surprised to learn that people are willing to risk their lives just to prove to the world that warnings can be ignored too. These folkes are so dumb. May God have mercy on their souls.
August 19th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
It is about full time jamaican takes hurricane warning seriously. the JDF went and advice the fishermen’s to leave the cays. What? are they bigger than the hurricane. All we can do at this time is pray for them.
August 19th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
God Bless Jamaica.
August 19th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Please keep the regular posts coming. You are the only connection out of Kingston we have now for news on what’s happening. The Power 106 radio transmission has been knocked out. God bless.
August 19th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
http://www.wrbn.net/
power106 is still up on this website
August 19th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Message from Ireland, we are with you in thought and prayer that it passes quickly and that you will all be well tomorrow. Keep posting so that we hear what is happening. The “big” media is giving only short news blibs – not hearing anything is bad. Thinking of all our friends. One Love
August 19th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
God Bless Jamaica and special care for the fishermen.
August 19th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
i am praying that my family and the rest of people are going to be ok just pray for our little island
August 19th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
I don’t know what kind of gratification people get from being stubborn. They knew that the hurricane was coming to Jamaica yet they chose not to evacuate. Thats just outright stupidity. I hope they live to realize that being stupid does not pay.
May God save Jamaica from the worst.
August 19th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Best of luck and God Bless to all in the path from Jim in Bonita Beach, FL, USA.
August 20th, 2007 at 1:28 am
I have a home in jamaica and my freiend s and my second family are all in this storm , i have been in jamaica when Ivan hit , the strengh and the faith jamaicans have is something to be proud of ,i pray and hope that all will be well with them , and they have my home and a good shelter , so i know they will be safe , good luck to all , and stay safe , please keep udateing these blogs , its the only real information we are getting , the news is more about how it might affect , the oil wells in the gulf ,money before life yet again ,
Peace and Love. Colin.
Leave a Reply