Opposition calls for evacuation plan for homeless residents in western Jamaica

 

Opposition Leader Mark Golding is suggesting that the government implement an evacuation plan for residents of western Jamaica who are now homeless after the storm ravaged their homes. 

 

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday afternoon, Mr. Golding said he has submitted a list of recommendations to Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness to aid in the relief and recovery efforts. 

 

"I also think we need an evacuation plan urgently for persons who are without shelter. That needs to be well thought

through so that persons can be moved to places of safety where they whatever form of accommodation can be erected to support them, whether it be tents or something else that can be put in place, and they can have access to the basic means of survival in an organised way. And that is necessary because right now we have people, many, many Jamaicans who are exposed to the elements, including babies, including children, including the elderly, including persons with disabilities, and they need to be moved to accommodation which protects them from the ravages of the elements going forward," he proposed.

 

Mr. Golding also suggested that the government hire overseas professionals seasoned in disaster management to help navigate the country out of the current disaster. 

 

"I have proposed to the Prime Minister from last week Wednesday that he should establish a broad-based task force to be given the responsibility of governance oversight over the relief effort, the relief coming in, how it is dealt with, how it is distributed, not to manage that process on a day-to-day basis, but to provide oversight to those who are managing it. So there's some accountability for how it's done and that accountability is being held by a broad-based group that can enjoy the support and confidence of the whole society, especially those who are suffering terribly now. 

 

"I also think there needs to be a clear command structure for the actual day-to-day management of the response to the relief. And that should be led, in my opinion, by professionals in disaster management, not by politicians who do not know the ins and outs of responding to a disaster of this magnitude," he asserted.

 

Mr. Golding on Monday declared that the parliamentary opposition will not politicise the crisis, but will instead seek to work with the administration to manage the situation. 

 

He added that the opposition will ensure that relief supplies get to those in desperate need. 

 

"The opposition must not at this time be seeking to score political points as a political competitor of the government. This is not the time for the opposition to adopt that posture. And we are indeed trying our very best to operate in the spirit of that. On the other hand, we must point out where there are areas of need and what we see as a priorities in relation to those needs, where we see weaknesses in the response mechanisms that need strengthening or correcting, and we must provide where we can constructive, well-intentioned suggestions to help navigate the country through this disaster. We must also demand transparency and fairness in the distribution of all relief. The relief must get to those who need it," he insisted.

 

He also called for the Prime Minister to allocate more funding to members of Parliament in order for them to assist their constituents in the relief and recovery efforts. 

 

 

Meanwhile, Member Parliament for Westmoreland Eastern, Dr. Dayton Campbell, has launched an adopt-a-family initiative, which is aimed at assisting displaced residents. 

 

Dr. Campbell explained that there are various ways to adopt a family. 

 

"You can help them with housing, you can help them with food, back to school supplies, whatever the needs are of that particular family. We have identified some container houses that are on sale for about US$3,500 and from what I have seen, it's approaximately 2,000 houses being totally destroyed, board houses that are flat. I think that is probably a workable solution," he suggested.