NEW YORK, USA — One week after one of the worst snow storms blanketed the Eastern United States, (USA) scores of New York residents -- many of them Jamaican nationals, continue to dig out from mountains of snow here.

And the harsh criticisms which followed in the early days on how the problems related to the blizzard was handled by the city have not only continued unabated, but have now shifted to a new concern. Residents told the Observer that they are concerned about the pile up of garbage in some communities.

Vehicles stuck on the snow covered streets of a heavily populated Jamaican community in Queens New York. (Photo: Harold G Bailey) 1/1

Dwight P Bailey, a Jamaican living in Queens was angry at the city's response to their plight. In fact, Bailey described the city's response as "one of the worst I have seen in the more than 20 years as a resident". Like others in the Jamaican community here, Bailey feels "the situation was poorly handled".

Bronx resident Carlene Nicely echoed similar sentiments. She told the Observer that her car "was stuck in snow for three days". Public transport, which was virtually crippled for the first two days after the blizzard, "also made travelling difficult," Nicely added.

Describing the situation as a nightmare, Valerie Hall, a Queens health care worker, said she had "never had such an experience before".

Hall said part of her back porch collapsed under the weight of the snow, while delivery of heating oil to her home was affected as "the truck could not come in".

One common theme among Jamaicans with whom the Observer spoke was a desire to be in their homeland during the winter months so as to escape the cold and the snow.

"It's just such a difficult time," said Earl Hall, a juvenile correctional officer.