Damage Assessment Begins in Clarendon

The assessment of damage resulting from Hurricane Ivan, has officially commenced in Clarendon.Parish Manager for the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Delroy Palmer told JIS News today that about eight teams consisting of 60 persons were being dispatched to begin assessing the damage done by Hurricane Ivan in the six constituencies of the parish.
Mr. Palmer also pointed out that a registration centre would be set up in the Portland Cottage community on Thursday, September 17. This community was devastated by the hurricane on September 10.
“We are asking persons to remain calm and to wait for the teams to reach their communities. A special team will be dispatched in Portland Cottage to start the registration process and speed up the relief process in order to restore some normality to the parish,” he said.
Mr. Palmer said that representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Poor Relief Department from the Clarendon Parish Council were heading the assessment team, which is also comprised of persons from the Social Development Commission (SDC), the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the United States of America Peace Corps and the Adventist Disaster Relief Agency.
In addition, pastors from the various churches will join the officers of the assessment team in the communities. The assessment process is expected to last for approximately three weeks.