PORT ANTONIO, Portland:

Torrential rain in St Thomas yesterday affected dozens of students attending Happy Grove High School in Portland, who were scheduled to sit mathematics in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams.

Principal of Happy Grove, Lauriston Lindsay, told The Gleaner yesterday that some students who were unable to make it to school due to flooding were accom-modated at Morant Bay High, Paul Bogle High and St Thomas Technical.

"Sections of Port Morant, Bowden and Crossing are inundated, which brought vehicular traffic to a halt," he said. "We might be forced to make a decision later today (yesterday) as to whether or not classes are to be suspended at Happy Grove, as torrential rain is now starting to affect us," said Lindsay yesterday.

Motorists stranded

The inclement weather also affected hundreds of motorists, who were left stranded for several hours en route to Portland.

A female motorist, Karene Forrester, told The Gleaner that she took her boyfriend to the airport but, on her way back, she was held up in traffic for more than five hours as a result of flooded roads in Bowden.

Happy Grove's principal pointed out that approximately 75 students from his school were allowed to sit the CSEC exam at the three high schools in St Thomas, while his school accommodated 16 students who reside in Portland, but attend high schools in St Thomas.

"We have not yet received word as to how many of our students were accommodated at Yallahs High and Seaforth High. At least 600 students failed to show for school yesterday at Happy Grove as a result of the inclement weather. We believe this weather will get worse, which could also result in wide-scale flooding," he said

But Lindsay believes the present situation could also pose a serious threat to life and property, especially if the Plantain Garden River overflows its banks.

Hoping for the best

He argued that once the Plantain Garden River overflows, the only alternative route to get to Happy Grove and Port Antonio is through Junction in St Mary.

"We are keeping our fingers crossed, as tomorrow (today) students are scheduled to sit technical subjects in CSEC but, with the weather conditions deteriorating, the only alternative might be to suspend classes for the remainder of the week, as Friday is mid-term," he added.