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BULLETIN # 9
Rebuilding Jamaica
September 24, 2004 - 5:00 p.m.
Monitor rebuilding process - Prime Minister
The Prime Minister today instructed the relevant agencies and Ministries of
Government to monitor the rebuilding process to ensure that residents of some
of the worst affected communities do not rebuild homes in areas that were completely
flooded by storm surges and flood rains associated with the hurricane.
Prime Minister Patterson, in a meeting with the leadership of relief agencies at Jamaica House this morning, reviewed the response mechanism for shelter and distribution of relief supplies. Also attending the meeting were private sector agencies involved in relief activities as well as representatives of the two major political parties.
Mr. Patterson said it is important that all the agencies have a clear understanding of how the relief system should operate and stressed that there should be a clear distinction between the relief phase of the response and the reconstruction process that is being anchored by the Office of National Reconstruction.
The Prime Minister also stated that while elected representatives have clear duties and should be integral to the process of relief and reconstruction, they should not be involved in the distribution of relief supplies. He said the provision of public assistance would be done through the implementation of a coupon system and the use of the existing distributive trade.
JPSCo restores normal power supply to over 400,000 customers
The Jamaica Public Service has restored normal power supply to over 400,000
customers. Approximately 75 percent of the transmission and power distribution
circuits islandwide have now been energized.
Restoration is progressing in most parishes except Clarendon and St. Elizabeth, the only parishes with less than 50 percent of power lines energized.
The pace of restoration is affected by extensive damage to sections of the power delivery network, as well as the challenges of getting into some areas and working in difficult weather conditions. JPS has therefore redeployed several of its work teams in order to focus on areas where substantial repairs are needed before the lines can be energized.
Children in Clarendon to benefit from UNICEF donation
More than 570 children in Clarendon who were affected by hurricane Ivan will
benefit from the donation of food and recreational items by the United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF) valued at more than $300,000.
The items which will be distributed between September 23 and 28 and will include water, canned meat, sachets of soup, rice and cornmeal, health supplies including first aid kits, water purification tablets, hydration salts, water containers, educational and recreational supplies including play kits. The assistance will be organized and channelled through the Rural Family Support Organization.
Health advisory
To prevent the accidental poisoning or death of young children, the Ministry
of Health is again reminding parents and guardians to refrain from storing kerosene,
bleach or other harmful chemicals in drink bottles. The warning, which was issued
on previous occasions, is of concern again in the wake of the ongoing prevalence
of the practice following hurricane Ivan.
Contact: The Public Relations Department
E-mail: pr@jis.gov.jm
Tel: 929-1919
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