By Dionne Rose, Staff ReporterA CONTINGENT of 130 soldiers from Venezuela should be arriving shortly in the island to help in the reconstruction efforts in western Westmoreland, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson disclosed during a tour of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management's (ODPEM) warehouse at New-port West in Kingston yesterday.
"I was told that a boat had sailed (yesterday) from Venezuela bringing a contingent that is going to help us in the rebuilding of one of the most damaged areas in Jamaica," Mr. Patterson said.
He said the team would be working to rebuild the community of Brighton in Westmoreland. "We looked at the possibilities where there are already commitments for work to be undertaken and we came to the conclusion that in the particular circumstances the best place for which they will undertake their work would be Brighton in Western Westmoreland."
TEAM DISPATCHED TO NEGRIL
The Prime Minister said that already he had dispatched a team to Negril to identify a suitable location where the Venezuelans can be located and where work can begin on the reconstruction of the village.
He used the opportunity to thank the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldiers for the work they have been doing at the ODPEM's storage house since Hurricane Ivan.
Mr. Patterson said in the past many persons had questioned the purpose of having a defence force but acknowledged that in times like these the JDF was critical. "Especially in times like these you prove over and over again how important you are. The relief efforts and the construction purpose is one in which every sector of Jamaica has to be involved," he said.
Commenting on the contributions that have been given from overseas, the Prime Minister said, "as I inspected some of the supplies and materials in our warehouse I recognise the generosity and brotherly response which has been forthcoming."
