A meeting of the National Emergency Operation Centre was convened yesterday afternoon to address the recent spring tides and an application will be made for $800m from the Contingency Fund, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported.
Such an application would have to be made in Parliament. Whether the life of this Parliament has come to an end has sparked controversy.
DPI said that at a briefing the Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson disclosed that the government plans to apply for emergency funds through the Contingency Fund.
During September and before the recent spring tides, DPI said that the Ministry of Finance approved $460M for emergency works at Mahaicony, which is now one of the hardest-hit areas in the current spring tides.
Under this sum, DPI said that two contracts were awarded to supply 10,000 tonnes of boulders. Another application will now be made to source funding from the Contingency Fund to further address the needs of residents in Mahaicony, particularly between Dantzig and Fairfield. In the area identified, DPI said that there is a critical three-kilometre section of foreshore that needs emergency works. At present, $800M is needed.
“We will observe all the Procurement laws in getting it done. There are provisions in our Procurement Act for emergency works. We have started engaging. Minister Jaipaul Sharma [Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry] would have done that commencing yesterday [Monday, September 30]. NPTAB [National Procurement & Tender Administration Board] to advise us how we can get what we need to do within the shortest possible time,” Patterson was quoted by DPI as saying.
DPI said that Senior Response Officer of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Captain Salim October, while providing an overview of the spring tides’ impact, bemoaned the reaction of residents who were complacent during the situation.
“Many community members have not heeded the warning that would have been provided to them through the Regional Disaster Management System and direct intervention by the Civil Defence Commission.
“Within the space of two hours, community members were informed that floodwaters would have entered their homes and properties imminently; something that they chose to ignore, and as a consequence, only responded when floodwaters were almost to the tip of their doors,” Capt. October continued.
Director-General within the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon said the government is exploring the most suitable methodology for providing funds to those who have experienced loss.
“There is going to be an assessment made and based on that assessment, at the level of the regions, whatever is the sum that is allocated for that purpose will be dealt with in an equitable [manner],” Harmon said.
It is estimated that nearly 400 households were flooded.
