THE SAGA of the recovery of five bodies from a muddy pond at Myersville in St. Elizabeth early this week attracted the expected levels of national interest and concern generated by a tragedy of this nature.
The bodies were submerged after being swept away by a powerful water surge unleashed by the torrential rains which accompanied Hurricane Emily. It took the resourcefulness, equipment, manpower and commitment of a corporate neighbour to retrieve the bodies and to allow the families the opportunity to provide a decent and proper burial for their loved ones.
Alpart's response to the Government's and the community's request for assistance is emblematic of the quiet but invaluable contribution that our rural-based bauxite companies have been called upon to make in times of local and national crises.
This episode underscores the value of coexistence and co-operation between public and private sector in areas such as disaster response in this instance, as well as the challenge to national recovery agencies to ensure that basic search and rescue capabilities are available within easier reach of our outlying communities.
The predictions for increasing hurricane volatility in the Caribbean has implications for heavier demands and expectations on the agencies, officers and volunteers who are already performing sometimes beyond their original scope.
Indeed, it may well be time for the Government to now consider upgrading, retooling and refinancing the disaster preparedness management operations across the parishes to cope with the awesome multiplicity of problems that invariably follow the devastation that occurs after these natural disasters.
The Myersville incident also underscores the importance of taking hurricane precautions seriously, for example the advice to avoid travelling on the roadways during a storm as these are now prone to be converted into storm channels and gully courses as seemed to be the case with this accident.
Perhaps the bauxite companies, with their vast experience in industrial safety and hazard control measures, could be invited to lend their expertise in that matter to the ODPEM. Judging from Alpart's contribution to last week's recovery effort, that invitation would be forthcoming.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
