Raw sewage floods streets in downtown Kingston

Raw sewage bubbled from manholes and gushed along the roadway like a river in spate. The situation is so bad that even dogs appear to be avoiding this murky, debris-filled water that has been flowing unchecked along West Street in downtown Kingston. The unbearable stench and the fear of being splashed by passing motorists have left pedestrians on tenterhooks. They know that a casual slip or a bad step in the ankle-deep filth means a health catastrophe.

Rodney Mitchell, who operates a small stall along West Street, understands this danger all too well. He told THE STAR that he was splashed by a passing motorist.

"Him douse mi and the whole a mi full up a s**t water," said an annoyed Mitchell, who lamented the extent to which raw sewage has been flowing on several streets in the downtown Kingston area.

"This is a sh***y city," he fumed.

The extent of the sewage problem can be seen in various sections of the market district as well as the entrance to the Pechon Street and Water Lane bus parks.

Mitchell told THE STAR that his business has suffered as a result of the sewage problem as people tend to avoid areas of the commercial district where raw sewage flows.

"Nobody not even a come out here come buy because the stench alone a kill the people dem. This a gwane fi days and it look like dem can't do nutten bout it. Right now mi sit down yah and yuh can taste the s**t water inna yuh throat to how long mi a smell s**t water," Mitchell said.

"People fall down in a it all the time. Some time the entire place turn river, so imagine when the car dem a pass and somebody a walk. Once yuh walk down there yuh inna problem, and mi just a beg the official dem to do summen bout it. People a sell inna filth. Nobody nah buy anything!" he added.

Jack, who operates a radiator shop along West Street, said the sewage problem has been a recurring one in the area.

"Is a ting weh go up and come down enuh but a di longest it ever stay. See down a bottom deh, the water a boil up like pot pon fire. Right now the way the place smell bad is like mi fraid fi eat. Mi still have to wear the mask although that lift long time. Down to the food weh you a eat taste like a s**t yuh a eat," Jack said.

Contacted for comment on the matter yesterday, the National Water Commission (NWC), through its acting corporate public relations manager, Delano Williams, said efforts are being made to correct the problem.

He said that debris which has been disposed of into the NWC's sewer line had caused damage to aspects of the sewer facility, resulting in a backup of wastewater along the network.