Solar solution to help Parottee residents

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The people of Parottee in St Elizabeth are certainly in dire circumstances. This is clearly seen in a video done by Jamaica Walk By. For the record, this is not unique, as many villages in St Elizabeth and less so Manchester, are still underwater following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

But with Parottee, according to the narrative, the sea has encroached on the land, bringing with it mammoth man eating crocodiles that pose a danger to the community.

Clearly, the encroaching sea is a global problem effected by climate change, specifically melting glaciers, and icebergs that cause rising sea levels, along with earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes, etc. It is water that's not really receding, therefore the residents will have to be relocated – and this is where the government comes in.

The decision as to where they go is best done by government. This is a case of looking after orphans and widows in their distress, as most of the residents interviewed were female, some retired.

PROFITS FROM SOLAR PANELS

This brings me to a suggestion I made years ago. The National Housing Trust (NHT) selling solar panels and batteries, which beneficiaries would pay for monthly, in lieu of electricity bills. It would work out to be less expensive, and eventually, they would own the panels and have no payments.

The profits from this sale could be used to relocate these vulnerable residents into starter homes, studios, in safe areas for which they would pay modest mortgages, and eventually expand if they can afford to do so.

This would be a triple win situation:

1. This move would not cost the government.

2. It could become a revolving disaster fund – the profits would be ongoing, and used only to rehouse vulnerable residents in disasters.

3. It's clean, sustainable energy, so does not have the climate-warming effect of polluting fossil fuel.

And best of all, it's lifesaving!

Government will not have the money to do everything, but by being creative, they can find ways of financing projects without dipping into or stretching the annual budget.

NOVLETTE MYERS