TUFTON
GENERATION 2000 (G2K), an affiliate organisation of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), is taking issue with the Government's approach to planning for disasters. The group has described it as more "reactive rather than proactive, and lacking in resources and central coordination."
For too long, said the G2K in a statement from its president, Senator Christopher Tufton, disaster planning has appeared to be "a low-priority issue, even with the devastating impact caused by disasters and particularly flood-related disasters."
According to the group, the last 10 seasons (1995 to 2004) have been the most active 10 consecutive years of Atlantic basin hurricane activity on record. There have been more than 100 named storms, 75 hurricanes and 36 intense hurricanes. With 12-15 tropical storms expected, and as many as nine likely to become hurricanes, the Caribbean is at great risk as it is located dead centre of these activities.
The JLP-affiliated group added that "The Government is operating as if it is not seized with this reality and the associated risk that the country faces. G2K is suggesting that while the Government cannot stop natural disasters, they can reduce the impact through forward planning and preventative containment measures."
A HOLISTIC APPROACH NEEDED
This, the organisation is suggesting, requires a centralised, coordinated approach involving agencies responsible for environmental protection, emergency management, drain cleaning and road maintenance. At the same time, G2K said that "This holistic approach is only effective when appropriate resources are made available to these agencies. This is currently not the case."
The Tufton-led group is also critical of the National Works Agency (NWA), arguing that the government agency has done very little this year in terms of drain cleaning. In the area of drain cleaning, G2K has called for an audit of the NWA, which it describes as "inefficient and ineffective".
Also, the G2K said that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management is underfunded to carry out the necessary work that must be done to prepare citizens for disasters before they occur.
"Public education is critical to this process. Citizens must know what needs to be done in a number of critical areas, including protecting the environment, garbage disposal and river training. These are all proactive measures and they must be supported with appropriate funding from Government," said G2K.
