Across the nation - Vaz appeals to diaspora for help
published:
Saturday | September 6, 2008
Vaz
YALLAHS, ST THOMAS:
Member of Parliament for Western Portland, Daryl Vaz, is seeking assistance from the diaspora to assist with the reconstruction of roadways - in Cascade - which collapsed during the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav.
Vaz, who spoke briefly to The Gleaner by phone on Thursday, explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was coordinating the initiative. He said that the need was great and whatever assistance was forthcoming would be greatly appreciated.
"The remittance was being worked out between Grace-Kennedy and The Jamaica National Building Society," he said.
"It, therefore, means that any contribution made by the diaspora, whether in the United States or the United Kingdom, or both, will be wired through the respective remittance agencies," he added
The community of Cascade has been cut off since August 28, leaving hundreds of residents marooned.
Since Tuesday, a concerted effort has been made by residents to create a makeshift roadway so as to gain access to the town of Buff Bay and its environs.
On Thursday, Vaz toured the ravaged community with Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry, to view the damage and to make a proper assessment.
Earlier speculations were that repairs could amount to approximately $400 million.
So far, preparations have been made for the only alternative route, which leads through the hills back to St Andrew.
- Gareth Davis Sr
-----------
St Ann residents urged to cooperate
OCHO RIOS, ST ANN:
Alvin Clarke, St Ann parish disaster coordinator, is appealing to residents who were severely affected by Tropical Storm Gustav to cooperate with the various assessment teams as they carry out work to ensure a speedy response to welfare needs.
When compared to other parishes, Clarke said St Ann was fortunate, as the parish was not as badly affected.
He did, however, say there was damage to several houses in the form of lost roofs and flooding. The total figure associated with that damage has not yet been ascertained.
Clarke said the welfare committee consisted of representatives from various agencies and organisations, such as the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the National Works Agency, the Jamaica Red Cross Society, and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), among others.
According to him, the agricultural sector was badly hit, RADA's preliminary estimate showing a loss of approximately $9 million.
- JIS
------------------------------
Council takes aim at no-build zones
Wheatley
SPANISH TOWN, ST CATHERINE:
The St Catherine Parish Council is to enforce regulations regarding no-build zones and will be seeking the support of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to ensure compliance.
Chairman of the council, Mayor Dr Andrew Wheatley, said following the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav and Prime Minister Bruce Golding's statement that no-build zones would be reviewed and enforced, his organisation would be embarking on a drive to enforce the law. This, he said, would help to prevent losses similar to those experienced during Tropical Storm Gustav.
not willing
He pointed out that the council, as the local planning authority, had the power to enforce regulations in relation to development zones. He added that some persons were not willing to abide by the regulations and they would have to be taken before the courts, which could be a lengthy process.
The council has also been keeping a log of new flood-prone areas, and ensuring that the necessary mitigation strategies were implemented to prevent future occurrences.
- JIS
Flooding inevitable in St Catherine - Mayor
SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine:
The Chairman of the St Catherine Parish Council, Dr Andrew Wheatley, has said that all the drains in the parish could not accommodate the volume of water brought by Tropical Storm Gustav.
Several communities in St Catherine suffered from flooding.
According to Wheatley, who is also mayor of Spanish Town, even if all the drains had been cleaned, there would still have been flooding.
The mayor said work would have to be done to address the drainage problem affecting the entire parish.
inadequacy
After witnessing the flooding, Wheatley said he recognised the inadequacy of the drains to handle the large volume of water dumped on the parish by the storm.
At a town meeting at the Old Harbour Bay Primary School on August 18, the Reverend Peter Espeut, former executive director of the Caribbean Coastal Area Manage-ment Foundation, pointed out to residents that because of the coastal location of the area, water was coming down from neighbouring elevated areas and the existing drains were proving incapable of handling the volume of water.
In the meantime, Wheatley stressed that of planning needed to be revisited.
