PM Visits Portland to see level of preparedness

Portland’s preparedness for the impact of Tropical Storm Tomas was outlined to Prime Minister Bruce Golding, during an emergency meeting of the Portland Disaster Committee at the Parish Council chamber on Thursday (November 4).

Prime Minister Bruce Golding addressing the Portland Disaster Committee’s emergency meeting on Thursday (November 4), in the Portland Parish Council chamber to discuss plans for Portland’s response to the threat from Tropical Storm Tomas.

The meeting was called to brief the Prime Minister on initiatives being implemented to minimize the effect of the storm, in light of forecasts projecting Portland as among the areas most vulnerable.
Mr. Golding was provided with a detailed account of the contingencies being put in place by various emergency organizations in the parish. Agencies reporting at the meeting included the police, Portland Parish Council, National Water Commission, Fire Brigade, Health Department, National Works Agency and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. Each reported a high level of preparedness to deal with any emergency which may arise. The Prime Minister was also given overviews of the state of preparedness by Mayor of Port Antonio, Councillor Floyd Patterson, and Portland’s Disaster Coordinator, Denise Lewis.
Mr. Golding expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness, and encouraged the agencies to continue to be diligent and persevering in their efforts, despite any shift in the general position of the weather system during the next 24 hours.He said the country did not wish to experience a repeat of the recent effects of Tropical Storm Nicole, which caused excessive infrastructural damage and took 14 lives.

Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Ronald Jackson, accompanied by representatives of emergency organizations in Portland attending an emergency meeting between Prime Minister Bruce Golding and the Portland Disaster Committee in the chamber of the Portland Parish Council on Thursday (November 4).

Accompanying the Prime Minister at the meeting were, Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the Hon. Daryl Vaz; Minister of State for Local Government, Hon. Robert Montague; and Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Ronald Jackson.