Dean Peart (centre), Minister of Labour and Social Security, addresses flood-related issues yesterday during a press conference at his Heroes' Circle offices, Central Kingston. At left is Dr. Marion Ducasse, director of emergency disaster management and special projects in the Health Ministry, and Paul Saunders (right), acting director-general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer THE GOVERNMENT has enough funds and supplies to deal with current flood relief efforts, says Dean Peart, Minister of Labour and Social Security.
Although he said a financial estimate of the damage would not be available until Monday, the minister told reporters at a press conference yesterday that the Government had enough money to deal with repercussions from the rains and that all was being done to bring things back to normal as soon as possible.
"Our instructions (from the Prime Minister) are that the resources we have available should be used immediately," he said. "We have no shortage of funds to deal with emergencies at this time." Mr. Peart said the Government was undertaking assessments to determine the extent of damage.
"My officers reported to me that they have provided assistance to a number of families across the island. They have investigated, they are dealing with it, and they have no problems as far as resources are concerned," he said.
He said that a meeting of the National Disaster Committee this weekend would have different Ministries bringing in their estimates.
"We have not got the final figures yet on this emergency," he said. "We'll be figuring a Cabinet submission to go to Cabinet Monday".
Mr. Peart said that with the Budget already stretched to the limit, there would be "some dislocation" later.
"We'll try to shift some money around and work with it as best as possible," he said. He said that after the assessments were completed they would determine what projects could be put back until the next financial year.
House-to-house verification of needs is under way and Paul Saunders, acting director-general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, said that his office has maintained a stock of bedding, clothing, food, basic appliances and utensils in addition to having arrangements in all parishes with supermarket operators and wholesalers to deliver at short notice, relief items that may be necessary.
"At the moment, cooked meals and food packages are being distributed," he said. "We are intensifying the investigations that are being done as we do not want to maintain shelters for any inordinate period and as soon as possible, we want to get the people back into their homes. We will give to these people whatever assistance is necessary."
Dr. Marion Ducasse, director of emergency disaster management and special projects in the Health Ministry, said all measures had been taken to ensure good health.
"The safety, health care welfare of all in hospitals and in shelters have been assured," she said.
She said that public health officials had also been deployed to affected areas to assess waste disposal and sanitation measures.
"There is no increased incidence of disease anywhere in the island and no outbreaks of disease," Dr. Ducasse said.
Yesterday, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson said that a "plan of action" was being prepared to assist in the recovery process, especially for severely affected areas like agriculture. He said in a statement, that he had ordered a meeting of the senior officers within the Ministries, departments and related agencies for on the weekend so that Cabinet would have the benefit of an up-to-date assessment.
The Meteorological Office said yesterday there would be no let-up in the rains, and the best chance of sunshine would be on Monday. There is likely to be an increase in rainfall today, leading to a gradual decrease on the weekend.
The 19 flood victims in Portland who have been in shelters for the last seven months after they were washed out last year, should be allocated housing by the end of June.
"We have set up a special committee to deal with the Portland situation. We have allocated houses and we are still hoping that by the end of June we will complete the relocation of these families," Mr. Peart said.
