Account for everything given

He said the ODPM must abide by International Best Practices and is stocked with blankets, tarpaulin, cots, cleaning tools and aids, shovels and barrels, sandbags and other items.

He said because Regional Corporations are among the first responders to any disaster, there is a process where people have to fill out forms when requesting items.

There is an accountability process and regional corporations must account for what they take from the ODPM to distribute to citizens.

He pointed out that persons seeking assistance can call the ODPM’s hotline 511 and calls will be directed to the Municipal Regional Corporation in the person’s district.

Captain Wint reminded that it is the duty of the first responders to inform people in distress what they can be provided with based on their needs assessment. Yesterday, Capt Wint and members of the ODPM conducted an aerial survey of flood-hit areas in St Helena, Piarco, Penal, Debe and Pt Fortin.

“The next step is to work with Regional Corporations doing damage assessment and determining needs and resources to be sent to the burgesses.” Wint noted that there are still areas under water saying that Penal and Debe were badly affected by floods.

With regard to complaints that there are areas still without pipeborne water and electricity, Capt Wint said in these areas roads are impassable and WASA and TTEC crews have to wait until flood waters recede so as to access affected areas to carry out repairs to damaged water and electrical infrastructure. Until then, it’s a waiting game.

On Wednesday Former Minister of National Security Captain Gary Griffith criticised the current administration claiming that if the National Operations Centre (NOC) had not been sidelined and merged into the SSA, that body could have been used more effectively in coordinating efforts in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Bret.

Yesterday, Capt Wint said the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), which falls under the ODPM, is doing the same work as the NOC was doing and he commended the efforts of officials at the NEOC.

He reminded that personnel from the Defence Force, Police, Fire, TSTT, WASA, TTEC, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Works and Ministry of Social Development are all coordinating the disaster relief efforts in the aftermath of Bret.