Heated debate online over ‘politicising of Jamaica floods’

Frustration over the "childish" blame game between politicians regarding the recent flooding in Jamaica has boiled over onto social media.

This follows one flood-affected resident, who asked not to be named, telling WIC News: “I am sick of the politics and games being played.

“This is only going to get worse if they don’t get on with giving us a solution.”

Over the weekend Mike Henry, MP for Central Clarendon, blamed the chaos caused by recent heavy rainfall on the People's National Party (PNP).

He accused previous PNP administrations of having “systematically stymied structured planning to correct the major drainage flaw across May Pen”.

Speaking to WIC News, the PNP hit back by "firmly refuting" the allegations.

'Finger pointing'

The party said: "He should not trivialise and politicise the flooding which has affected so many families who were already facing difficulty circumstances.”

But for users on Facebook, the statements from each party was the usual political game playing.

"That's all them du [sic] point fingers at each other," said Jervis Davis, with Marvalee Williams-Lynch agreeing that they do this "while Jamaica burns".

Another exasperated user, Leighton Anthony Condison, simply said: "Oh well! Blame it on something not you." On Twitter it was a similar story, with "a new approach to politics" suggested by James Kerion Trench.

During an emergency or crisis, "the government and opposition should put party politics on the back burner and work together for the people," he tweeted.

@Bountiful96 @WIC_News @JamaicaPNP That is why we need a new approach to politics in Ja. For far too long the masses have been lead through the nostril by politicians.

— James Kerion Trench (@Jameskaba2k) April 25, 2017

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