Anxiety mounting in Little London as Melissa edges closer to Jamaica
Published:Thursday | October 23, 2025 | 12:08 AM
Western Bureau:
As the weather system Melissa edges closer to Jamaica, residents in western Westmoreland are already feeling the impact of heavy rainfall and flooding, days before the storm’s expected landfall.
For some, like Sheron, a resident of Bay Road, the anxiety is already mounting.
“I don’t feel good with the storm, but a God work that,” she said. “So we have to accept anything Him give we. But the road difficult.”
Pointing to the rising waters along the main road, she noted that the flooding had already begun before the storm even arrived.
“The storm no reach yet and we started already. So what will happen by tomorrow till Sunday? Dangerous. Very dangerous.”
She explained that blocked drains and poor road conditions continue to worsen the situation.
“There is no road to make the water lead go nowhere. There is nowhere [for it to run off], so the water will head onto the road. People have to come here and turn and go back on the back road. And the main road, no way for them to go. It cannot work,” she said, shaking his head.
Meanwhile, the downpour forced schools such as Little London Primary to close early on Wednesday, as floodwaters quickly filled the Little London Square, making it unsafe for students and teachers to navigate.
Westmoreland Western Member of Parliament (MP) Ian Hayles was out in the rain with volunteers cleaning drains as part of flood-preparedness efforts. However, he expressed frustration and disappointment over what he called years of inadequate disaster preparedness and government support.
“I didn’t get one dollar from [the] Government to clean one drain,” Hayles said. “I’m here with the chairman for the Little London Division, Mr Erwin. He has volunteered to help the citizens of the Little London Division. That’s what we have to be dealing with now ... volunteerism ... because the Government has no money to give anybody. All of the money done in the election.”
Hayles criticised what he described as political division at a time when the country should be united in preparing for natural disasters.
“When the flood rain come or the hurricane come, it doesn’t go to green house or it go to orange house. It goes to every Jamaican house,” he said. “I would have liked to see the Government place the PNP (People’s National Party) and the JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) in one room and we come up with one solution in terms of dealing with the flood rain and hurricane that is on its way.”
The MP said he left Parliament feeling disappointed that there was no support forthcoming for drain cleaning, bushing, or road repair.
“It is sad and it is disappointing,” he lamented. “Every member of parliament goes to Parliament to represent his or her constituency to the best of his ability, and any question pertaining to representing your constituency should be heard in the House of Parliament.”
He also made an urgent appeal to residents living in flood-prone communities, such as McNeils Land and Little London, to take evacuation warnings seriously.
“When the authorities tell you to move, I’m appealing to each and every one of you, move when they tell you to move,” he urged. “It doesn’t make any sense for us to lose one life. When they say move, make we move. Make us ensure that we can protect every single life in this country.”
Hayles added that he is calling for unity and preparation at every level as the country braces for worsening weather conditions.
“We have to ensure that we don’t lose one life in the hurricane that’s about to come. So prepare. I am preparing, the constituency is preparing ... you prepare at home, too.”