Diego man slams NEMA for bad advice

WHILE Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Minister of National Security Martin Joseph were heaping praises on National Emergency Management Agency’s (NEMA) operations during the rumblings of Hurricane Ivan on Tuesday, a Diego Martin man is heaping condemnation on the government agency. “NEMA gives bad advice,” a concerned Benedict Henry told Newsday at his Alick Terrace, Bagatelle home in Diego Martin. Henry’s reasons were that “while heavy winds were blowing around 7 am, Tuesday, we heard a loud thud in the backyard. On investigating, we saw our ten-year-old bayleaf tree on top of a neighbour’s house, while the two 14-year-old coconut trees were bending towards another neighbour’s home.

“Based on NEMA’s constant hurricane advisories, I immediately contacted the Fire Services. “When they came, one of the officers said NEMA was giving everybody the wrong advice and they are not the people to call for such emergencies. We were advised to contact the Regional Corporation. “When we called the corporation, they said they would send someone the next day — Wednesday. “When contacted, NEMA said it could not speak to me because they were too busy and hung up.”

Henry also told Newsday that after being turned down by NEMA and the Regional Corporation, he contacted Trinidad and Tobago Television, before calling the corporation again. When he told the official he had called the television station, they visited his home and cut down the trees 20 minutes later. Meanwhile in another part of the Diego Martin valley, a large tree fell on a house owned by William James, 65, at Upper Simeon Road, Petit Valley, while he was asleep yesterday morning, destroying his roof, furniture and a refrigerator. The unemployed man is now seeking help from the authorities to remove the fallen tree.