‘Kush’ hopeful Melissa will spare Treasure Beach

Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth resident 'Kush', who also goes by the alias 'AL', was out in the rain in his underwear on Monday filling sandbags as he sought to help him and his neighbours keep flood waters that are likely to come from Hurricane Melissa away.

Kush is worried that the strong breeze from the Category 5 hurricane will cause him and other community members to lose trees with critical food.

"Likkle more a whole heap a famine a go gwaan with this yah storm," he said jokingly.

"Melissa, wi want you out of the Caribbean yuh know, brawling!" he said with a smile.

He said he is not afraid of what is to come and believes preparing for the storm will make things better for him.

"When you prepare like this [sandbags], you know you will [be] ready for the storm. I am not afraid, but you know, on the seafront [where I live] you will have a little fear.

He added, "A water enuh and it's dominant and can't handle. I am just hoping for the best and giving thanks to the Lord same way."

"I am going to lay the bags flat. I wouldn't mind if I could double the bags. It all depends on how high the water goes. I know the plants [are] going to go and my neighbour fence will tear down because of the breeze," he said.

Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 5 storm with winds in excess of 160 miles per hour, is inching toward Jamaica on Monday and is expected to move over the Caribbean island on Tuesday.

Some additional strengthening is forecast today, with fluctuations in intensity likely before Melissa makes landfall on Jamaica early Tuesday.

Melissa is expected to reach Jamaica and southeastern Cuba as a powerful major hurricane and will still be at hurricane strength when it moves across the southeastern Bahamas.

- Ashley Anguin

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