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Local Government Minister defends ODPEM amid criticism

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Desmond McKenzie
By Clinton McGregor    
 
Amid mounting public criticism of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), following Monday's earthquake, Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie has come to the defence of the agency, insisting that Jamaica's disaster response mechanism is fully operational and effective.
 
He was also responding to claims by the parliamentary opposition that Jamaica's disaster response mechanism had failed in the aftermath of the quake.
 
Other public commentators have blasted the agency for its slow response in releasing information to the public, noting that it took ODPEM six hours after the quake to issue a comment.
 
But speaking in the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon, Minister McKenzie said ODPEM played a crucial role in the assessment and emergency response to Monday's event in accordance with the Disaster Risk Management Act. 
 
He said the claim that ODPEM did not provide an update until after 5:00 p.m. was not true. 
 
"Less than 40 minutes after the event, the chairman of the national disaster committee, the Most Honourable Prime Minister, gave an update to the country based on information that was provided. And at the time, Mr. Speaker...the systems were under pressure. So it took us time to gather vital information," he argued. 
 
Mr. Mckenzie insisted that ODPEM is being unfairly criticised. 
 
"Persons are using the opportunity to be critical. And I can't stop people from being critical if they want, but be critical on the facts. Do not say what is not so. The government responded in adequate time, Mr. Speaker, and I want to assure the country of the commitment of the government of Prime Minister Andrew Holness to be transparent and to allow the country at all times to know the facts when it comes on to national events," he declared. 
 
 
70 aftershocks  
 
In the meantime, the country has been experiencing dozens of aftershocks following Monday's 5.6 magnitude earthquake.  
 
Minister McKenzie said he received an update on the situation during a meeting of the National Disaster Risk Management Council on Tuesday morning.
 
The Earthquake Unit, he said, has reported some 70 aftershocks so far, with the last one felt at 7:30 Monday night. 
 


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