Go-Jamaica Weather Watch

Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter

The residents of 89 August Town Road in St. Andrew are accusing the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona of releasing sewage into the August Town area which has flooded the lane.

When the Gleaner team arrived on the scene some residents were seen feverishly filling sandbags, which they were using to block the mouth of the lane.

Photo by Ian Allen/Staff Photographer: Residents of 89 August Town Road in St. Andrew pack sandbags to prevent flooding in the area.

“Look here, look when it rain the sewage water from the University run pon the road, and it come down the lane and sometimes it go into the homes. It don’t have anywhere to run, so it come inna the lane.”

The residents are complaining that whenever it rains the water comes onto the lane and they are afraid because it poses a health problem.

“Every time it rain the faeces water run inna de lane, and we complain to the authorities but dem no response fi we dem no response fi local.”

UWI Deputy Principal, Joseph Pereira however says that he had not heard about the complaints before he was questioned by The Gleaner.

“I have not received any complaints and as far as I know the (sewage) plant is working.”

Pereira also said that when the institution releases any sewage it is released into a gully at the back of August Town.

“The plant is in good working condition and the sewage which is released is fully treated and it poses no health risk,” he said.

However he added that he would be checking once the hurricane is over to see if what the residents say is true.

Feedback: mark.beckford@gleanerjm.com