Overgrown bush at Arch Cot is a concern to residents.

by CAROL-ANN TUDOR

AFTER SEVEN MONTHS of waiting, the fate of residents from the Arch Cot Terrace, Brittons Hill, St Michael tragedy still hangs in the balance.

The latest development facing those who were displaced from their homes by the August 26, 2007 apartment collapse comes from Attorney-General and parliamentary representative for the area, Freundel Stuart, who reportedly promised to address their problems urgently when the House of Assembly reconvenes next month.

Stuart gave the undertaking during a meeting with some of the residents last Thursday.

The cave-in claimed the lives of five members of one family and displaced several families, most of them temporarily re-located at the Vauxhall Senior Citizens Home, Vauxhall, Christ Church.

One resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said although they were still concerned and annoyed about the whole situation, they intended to give the new MP a chance "because of his seeming genuineness".

The resident said Stuart seemed to be taking a more positive approach than the last Government, in regard to a number of issues which residents had.

Among the concerns was the number of burglaries taking place in the now abandoned houses.

One owner lamented that the doors were broken off and contents of the house ransacked. The thieves even tried to dislodge the air-conditioning unit but failed. In another home all the electrical and plumbing fittings were stolen.

Overgrown bush, which now surrounds the area, was also a problem. Just over three weeks ago, workers from the Ministry of Public Works refused to do any debushing there, saying the area was deemed too dangerous.

Wyndal Clarke, who owns an apartment complex near the site, expressed concern over whether he would be compensated for loss of business since the tragedy.

"He [Stuart] has given his assurance that he will do his best. The others were just going through the motions, so I am looking forward to see what he intends to do," he stated.

Another resident, who still resides in the area, said she knew nothing of the meeting but the area was running wild with bush, which she wanted cleaned urgently.

She also said it was unfair that route taxis had been banned from passing through the gap, when trucks laden with rocks, septic tankers and other heavy vehicles drove through the area freely.

"It is unfair. After seven o'clock at night, up here is like a ghost town. If you don't have transportation, you have to walk this long isolated road, and since everyone has moved out, the thieves have moved in and I am scared," she said.

Another woman expressed dissatisfaction at having been notified about the meeting only an hour before the scheduled start.

"I really wanted to go to that meeting. The last thing I heard was that the report from the geologists had gone to Parliament, so I need to have an update on the situation," she said.