Myersville Councillor Reports Fears of Gastroenteritis

Councillor for the Myersville Division in St. Elizabeth, Layton Smith, says he has started receiving reports of children showing symptoms of gastroenteritis, amid a drought that has gripped the parish since last December.

Councillor Smith says residents in all four divisions of South East St. Elizabeth including Malvern, Southfield and Junction are struggling, with farmers particularly affected.

We have more in this report from Daina Davy.

Councillor Smith says the lack of clean water is beginning to affect children in schools in his division.

Councillor Smith says the demand for trucked water is growing in his division, as the rains continue to stay away.

He says repeated efforts to secure a boost in his drought mitigation allowance to fund the purchase of water for residents in the division have proved futile.

Councillor Smith, who won the division for the PNP at the recent local government election, is appealing to the prime minister for help.