Government to Name Committee to Review Disaster Preparedness Mechanism

The Government will shortly be naming a Committee to review the country’s disaster preparedness mechanism.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, made the disclosure while addressing the Jamaica Government Pensioners Association’s 57th Annual General Meeting, on Wednesday (July 17), at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.

Mr. Holness explained that the review is intended to improve the national disaster response mechanism.

“We have taken a policy decision to empanel a Committee to review our preparedness… to improve our preparedness and make the changes that need to be made now, so that if we are hit by another disaster, which is quite likely in this hurricane period, that we are not just prepared but we are ready to act. A few days from now I will be naming the committee to do the review,” he said.

Noting that while the country’s preparedness and relief response has improved over the past 36 years since the passage of Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 and subsequent storms, Ivan in 2004, Dean in 2007, and Gustav in 2008, he said with the increased likelihood of more frequent severe weather events impacting the country, constant improvement is necessary.

“Beryl has left a significant impact on many of our communities, particularly St. Thomas, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, and Hanover. The storm has caused loss and damage that we are still grappling with. Our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones and those whose homes and livelihoods have been adversely affected,” Mr. Holness said.

The Prime Minister emphasised that critical utility providers continue to work to restore service in those areas that have been adversely impacted by the passage of Hurricane Beryl and pleaded for patience.

“It is important that public officials and public entities are always feeling the pressure from the society to recover, so we keep moving faster, but there has to be a level of understanding of what is possible and what is not. Yes, the public must constantly make their needs known, and constantly ask for information and public entities and public officials must constantly be accessible and provide the information, and I believe it is in that process that a level of understanding can develop in the society,” he noted.

The Prime Minister commended the efforts of all well-thinking Jamaicans and other stakeholders who have given assistance in the recovery effort.

“In this challenging time, we have witnessed the remarkable unity, kindness and resilience of our people and together we will rebuild with the spirit of community and solidarity that defines the Jamaican spirit,” he said.