PM says state of emergency could be declared after passage of Hurricane Beryl

 

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has indicated that a State of Public Emergency could be declared to give members of the security forces the powers to ensure public order in the event the country is devastated by Hurricane Beryl.

 

He said members of the security forces will need the cover to crackdown on any possible looting following the passage of the hurricane. 

 

"No decision has yet been taken. The Cabinet will reconvene in another hour or so, and when we review all the recommendations and presentations made, then we will inform the nation as to the implementation of orders under the DRMA (Disaster Risk Management Act)," he said at a press briefing on Monday. 

 

He said the measure is important to establish that there is a disaster and allow the activation of emergency rules. 

 

"Sometimes after disasters have passed, the accountability process sometimes does not incorporate that there was a disaster, and so it is important that the framework be well established. So it is likely that we will implement orders under the Disaster Risk Management Act. The nation will know this before 5 p.m. today," he said. 

 

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister noted that the government has reinforced the communication channels of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management in preparation for Hurricane Beryl.

 

He said the Jamaica Information Service will take the lead in ensuring the public gets the necessary information on any decision to be taken by ODPEM as it responds to emergencies.

 

 

Meanwhile, Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie said the National Disaster Council has been mobilised.

 

Speaking Monday afternoon at the press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. McKenzie said early warning systems have been activated on the eastern end of the island, expected to be most affected by the storm.

 

"We have already identified the areas...places like Port Maria, other areas [where] we have put up early warning systems. I want to give the country the assurance that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management is in a position to respond and to respond positively to any outcome that face us over the next couple of hours. The Jamaica Fire Brigade, one of our first respondents, has been provided with the necessary resources. They have had new equipments (sic) that will allow them to offer the kind of response of services that will be required at this time." 

 

Mr. McKenzie added that more than 800 shelters are on standby to be opened once the storm hits.

 

"Our shelters, once we are given the green light, we will activate the 870 shelters that [are] situated across the country. Relief supplies have been already been secured. Parish disasters coordinators are in a state of readiness. Our shelter managers are also in a state of readiness. We are asked the country to be ready to work with us, to work with themselves, to ensure that we minimise the effects of this pending hurricane," he urged. 

 

He said emergency funding has been provided to municipal corporations to carry out immediate drain cleaning to mitigate against possible flooding.

 

Municipal corporations across the island have also been instructed to identify homeless people and provide the necessary shelter for them during the passage of the storm.

 

 

A large contingent of police and military personnel will be deployed across the island to maintain public order and to protect vital infrastructure during the passage of the storm.

 

Commissioner of Police Dr. Kevin Blake said the High Command has called in members who were on leave as part of its strategy to increase the number of boots on the ground. 

 

"Our mobile patrol will be concentrating primarily within the domestic spaces and the business districts, and our quick response, which may be extremely relevant, given what may happen on our road, we will be out in their full numbers to help to respond to incidents and also to protect our business communities. 

 

"There are some key vital infrastructure that we have been looking at, that we will be placing emphasis on looking at protecting in collaboration with our JDF. And these include Petrojam, our airports, our business districts, our hospitals, the major road networks, our courts, prisons, and all scheduled premises, including our high commissions and our embassies," he noted. 

 

Dr. Blake said the JCF will also be positioning heavy duty equipment across the island to assist in search and rescue and disaster recovery efforts.

 

Police Command Centres will be activated across the island starting Tuesday.