THE AFTERMATH of Hurricane Ivan is passing through the usual phases of such natural disasters: picking up the pieces, counting the cost, consoling the victims and launching the reconstruction.
The extent of damage will determine how long reconstruction will take; which in turn is dependent on finding the resources to achieve this. The scope of damage should also indicate how well prepared the nation was to meet the disaster.
The island braced for a category five hurricane more powerful than Gilbert in 1988; yet, mercifully, the eye of the system passed some distance from the southern coastline. Even so enough devastation was dealt to agriculture in particular and much of the rural countryside.
The normal expectation is that the State should bear the brunt of the responsibility for reconstruction. But there is a vital role for individual citizens in exercising patience where it is warranted and in making use of the designated agencies that will activate the
recovery.
Apart from the impact on the physical infrastructure there has been overwhelming reaction from the Jamaican diaspora with
thousands of e-mailed messages reaching our website, expressing concern, sympathy, and promises of relief.
Letters to the Editor provide a sampling of reactions nearly two weeks after the event. Those experiences range from commendation to the public utilities, the generosity of the private sector rendering relief; and special pleas for help to be given in some of the more remote rural districts.
In particular we endorse the appeal of the National Consumers League (NCL) for individual consumers to help themselves by
simply 'shopping around' to avoid the perpetrators of price-gouging.
This simple expedient of making sensible choices is too often ignored. It is easier to complain and blame the authorities. But as the NCL says, while State agencies are available for recovery and reconstruction assistance, shopping around can avoid the price-gouging. It must be noted though that in many cases merchants will incur increased cost for emergency imports. This will have an effect on prices.
The more complex phases of the reconstruction are still ahead however.
We urge the administrators to avoid tribal motivation and some of the scarce-benefit scandals that have marred recovery from
hurricane disaster in the past.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
