By Josue Ramirez Nelson

Copyright nationnews

A collection of derelict cars and overgrown bush next to their property is causing headaches for a Mapp Hill, St Michael family, leaving them to repel rats and other pests daily.

The hazardous conditions have been a long-standing issue for the residents who spoke with the MIDWEEK NATION under anonymity.

They explained that the neighbouring lot, which was purchased nearly three years ago and shows early signs of construction, has become the resting place for several derelict vehicles, and the site of overgrown bush in the years since.

As farmers who grow chickens and other livestock, the conditions have led to rodents encroaching on their property, digging into their feed and wreaking havoc on their livelihood.

“It’s crowded with bush so we get a lot of rodents coming over. They come and they bite up the bird feed,” one of the residents said.

“We have exotic birds and their cages are wire cages so they go and bite off the birds’ feet, and then it gets to the point that they come out of the bush and if you don’t get to the eggs on time they eating up the eggs as well,” they added.

The plot of land has more than ten cars lined and leading up a shallow hill. The cars are either heavily damaged or stripped for parts. What is left of the old vehicles is swallowed by five feet tall grass sprouting through the windows and crevices of their frames.

At the peak of the hill lies a container which the residents say has not been covered and often becomes a basin for pools of rainwater. This also caused mosquitoes to breed, adding even more pest issues.

The residents say they have made appeals to the lot owners who do not live in the area, to clear the overgrown bush or apply some form of vector control, but said attempts to reach a solution were mostly ignored.

Subsequent pleas were made to the Ministry of Health and the Environmental Protection Departments, but still the residents were unsuccessful in finding a resolution. Since then, they said the situation has become more severe, leaving them to buy at least ten large bags of poison to repel the rodents from their property.

“And if we put down 12 balls of poison today, by the time we get up its guaranteed that by tomorrow morning, all 12 balls gone. When we come in here in the evenings, late after six, we hear them running through the bush. And when the mosquitoes bite the chickens, what happens is they get pox, so who is going to compensate me for that,” the farmer said.

“They put their garbage there, create a hazard that puts me in problems and I gotta look for money to deal with it.”

When contacted for comment, environmental health officer Eurolene Welch-Drakes assured that the matter would be investigated, labelling it a multi-factor environmental risk.

“This is a multi-factor type of environmental risk factor and it requires not only this department and the residents of Mapp Hill, but other Government departments. We will do the initial investigation and then we will call the other departments who will be able to assist in removing any derelict vehicles that they may have over there,” she said.