RUTH Russell, 75, of Pinder’s Point/Lewis Yard, has not received relief assistance from any government agency, and has had to depend on the kindness of the church and others for food, a hot meal, and help to repair her damaged house.

The elderly woman said representatives from Social Services had been by to conduct an assessment. A large portion of her home’s roof is missing and covered with tarpaulin, and all of the furnishings were damaged inside.

Ms. Russell and her son were finally able to scrape up some money for a generator on Friday.

“I got my generator and my nephew hooked it up in the back, and that’s how we had light for the first time since hurricane – we did not get any generator from NEMA, we got it ourselves and we had to scrap to get money to buy it- it cost us $500,” she said.

“Social Services and everybody came here say they taking assessment and gone. They ain’t bring nothing yet,” she said on Monday.

“The only help I getting is from some church people and others in the community.”

Ms. Russell said that a young lady in the area brought her a hot meal and she was grateful because she hadn’t eaten anything that morning.

On Sunday, she said members of the Church of the Good Shepherd stopped by and delivered a food package.

“They brought a bag of iteMs. - rice, sugar and flour and other food supplies. The government ain’t bring nothing here yet,” she said.

Ms. Russell, who has lived in her house since 1962, said everything was destroyed.

Ruth Russell, who says she has received no help from the government.

“We lost everything inside. The east side of the house, where my son’s room is, was badly damaged and he had to sleep in his car. But, last night after we get the generator turned on he come inside - it was best sleep he had since hurricane,” she laughed, still able to find some humour amid the turmoil and devastation in her community.

Ms. Russell said that her cousin stopped by on Monday to look at the house and promised to bring some friends to assist her with repairs.

“I know God is going to take care of us. I lived here all my life from 1962. The government said they will help. Couple of people (from the government) said they coming to assist and bring things for the house because they know I am a senior citizen and I am not working, but I don’t know when they are going to reach,” she said.

Meanwhile, some Haitians living in the community of Pinder’s Point are also struggling to survive after losing everything.

The Tribune spoke with Maly St Vil who said that the wooden house he rents is uninhabitable and the landlord has not come by or spoken to him about repairing it.

“All my things are gone - plenty of my things gone,” he said.

Mr. St. Vil is unable stay at his house which is badly damaged and is staying with someone else.

Maly St. Vil, who is unable to stay at his house.

After returning from the shelter, he said that the back portion of the house had blown out where the kitchen was and the fridge and stove were outside in the yard.

“I can’t tell you how I feel, but I am grateful I have life,” he said.

He saw no one from Social Services.

Lutrice St. Gera, who lives nearby, said that an assessment team had visited that area and had inspected her home for damage.

Her roof is damaged and is in need of a tarpaulin. She has taken in two of her Haitian next door neighbours whose homes were also badly damaged.

Alia Paul, an elderly woman, said that the wooden house she and her son rents is also in need of repairs.

With the help of a Haitian interpreter known as Jean, The Tribune asked if the landlord had stopped by and checked on them.

Ms. Paul said the owner did not come and has not talked to them about repairing the place.

“I have no food and clothes to wear,” she said.

“I pay rent and I see no one since the hurricane come here to check,” said another Haitian man. “I see plenty people been out here. They say somebody is going to help us, but I don’t see nobody yet.”

Alia Paul, who told The Tribune that the wooden house she rents with her son is in need of repair.

Another man, Fatul Dasilial, said while he would like to repair the damage to the house, he needs permission from the landlord.

“Everybody roof gone and some people lost everything; people lost whole house,” he said. “The roof is leaking but when you rent you can’t do anything, you have to wait on owner. So we waiting on landlord to come and say thing to us,” he said.

Mr. Dasilial said he was very grateful to the church people who have been distributing food items.

Louiscemor Moreau of Lewis Yard was also displaced following severe damage at the house where he has lived for more than 30 years.

“Somebody give me some place to live. Everything in my house is gone. I asked for help from government. I don’t see them yet,” he said.

Pastor Joel Jean, of Church of First Born, said the church on Queen’s Highway was severely damaged.

“Some of our members lost roofs and they really need help. I don’t know if Social Services helped them, but they need help because they have nowhere to go,” he said.

Pastor Jean said he has visited the Pinder’s Point area.

“I see plenty damage there to house in the Haitian community and plenty people in need down there,” he said.

Bishop Horry Noralus, of New Apostolic Church, in Eight Mile Rock said many Haitians are also displaced there.

“The Haitian population in Eight Mile Rock was badly affected by the hurricane, and we had plenty damage at the church too - our roof is gone,” he said. “Some of our church members have lost their homes and need help.”

He said he has seen assessment teams in the area.

“I am concerned about people in Eight Mile Rock, not only for Haitians, but people there are suffering and need help,” he said.

By Denise Maycock, Tribune Freeport Reporter

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