Adrian Frater and Haile Clacken, Gleaner Writers
WESTERN BUREAU:
LAST-MINUTE PREPARATIONS were in high gear all across western Jamaica yesterday as the tourism, business, health, and security sectors all went into emergency mode in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Dennis.
In St. Elizabeth, the western parish worst affected by Hurricane Ivan last September, members of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) were busy setting up an emergency operation centre in Black River, from which relief efforts will be coordinated.
EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTRE
"We are setting up our emergency operation centre at the Black River Primary School," said Yvonne Morrison, the St. Elizabeth parish coordinator for the ODPEM. "The centre will coordinate all relief efforts from the National Works Agency (NWA), Red Cross, police, fire, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security."
Mealwhile, parish council officials were locked in dialogue with Acting Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, seeking building materials and funding. While there were no details coming out of the meeting, it was widely anticipated that the parish would get at least a portion of the funding and materials council members were seeking. The parish council also reported late last evening that approximately 90 per cent of the drains for which it is responsible had been cleaned.
Drain cleaning was also high on the agenda of last-minute efforts in the other western parishes with significant remedial work being done in St. James, especially Montego Bay, Westmoreland and Trelawny.
TOURISM SECTOR BUSY
Tourism players, especially hoteliers, were also quite busy yesterday activating their hurricane plan, which was developed by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association (JHTA) to handle emergency situations. In addition, special measures were being implemented to ensure the safety and comfort of visitors. "We have activated plans to ensure that we have adequate food, water, standby generators and fuel, so that the various properties can function effectively should the hurricane hit Jamaica," said JHTA president Horace Peterkin. "We have also cancelled all tours and shut down our beaches and water sports activities to ensure the safety of our visitors."
The hotel sector is expected to lose business with the expected closure of the airport and other ports of entry, but Mr. Peterkin said he was asking members of the sector to disregard the losses and concentrate their efforts on keeping the tourism package first class.
BRISK BUSINESS
On the business front, supermarkets and hardware stores enjoyed good business all across the west as shoppers stocked up on emergency supplies including food, building material, kerosene, batteries, and other basic emergency needs.
"Business has been quite brisk with people coming in to pick up emergency supplies. We have since run out of batteries and candles," said Andrew Williams of Jackson Williams Company Limited, a major supplier of hardware and building material in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.
"We are also running low on plyboard but we are busy trying to source some."
Assistant Commissioner of Police Keith 'Trinity' Gardner, the commanding officer for Area One - Trelawny, St. James, and Hanover - said the police had activated their disaster plans and expressed confidence that the police would be able to handle whatever comes their way. "We have met with all the local stakeholders and the necessary plans are now in place," said ACP Gardener. "I really don't think anything will happen that we won't be able to handle."
The Western Regional Health Authority said in a press statement yesterday that the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay was discharging patients "who are well enough" and all hospital wards were secured. "All clinics are suspended until further notice and operating theatres will be handling emergency cases only until the threat has passed," the authority said.
