Residents of Portland Cottage, Jamaica, are voicing their frustration over what they perceive as systemic neglect in disaster relief efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. Many of these individuals, already living in dire poverty, claim they have yet to receive any assistance from previous hurricanes, including Hurricane Beryl in July. Despite registering for aid and providing necessary documentation, they say their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Dennis Baju, a resident of Dry Hill, lamented, ‘No help, no help, none a di storm dem weh blow. This a go meck the seventh storm and wi don’t get no help.’ His 87-year-old mother, Gloria, who was forced to relocate her small business into her one-bedroom home after Beryl destroyed her shop’s roof, accused political players of discrimination. ‘Is victimisation. When them come fi give food is down dah way deh it go,’ she said. Similar grievances were echoed by other residents, including Neville Gayle, whose home was severely damaged by Melissa. ‘Mi woulda like some zinc fi meck up back mi bathroom and di roof,’ he said while attempting to clean his muddied, decrepit structure. The community’s frustration is compounded by the perception that relief efforts are politicized, with aid allegedly directed toward certain areas or individuals based on political affiliations. ‘Dem [disaster relief personnel] nah go come yah now, dem specialise inna politics,’ one young woman remarked. Despite the hardships, some residents remain resilient, expressing gratitude for their survival. ‘Mi glad mi alive and mi family an mi grandpickney dem alive,’ one woman said. As the community begins the arduous task of rebuilding, the calls for equitable and timely assistance grow louder, with many urging authorities to address the systemic issues plaguing disaster relief distribution.