RUDOLPH BROWN, Chief PhotographerIN AN awkward situation Dr. Barbara Carby (right), director of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), tries to convince a member of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) of her credentials, at the ODPEM warehouse yesterday during the aborted hand-over of relief supplies by Texaco to the ODPEM. Looking on is Michael Chen, Texaco district retail manager (second left) and Eleanor Jones, managing director of Environmental Solutions Limited.
JDF soldiers, who have been mandated by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson to secure donated hurricane relief supplies, told Dr. Carby she would not be allowed on the compound as they could not verify her identity. A Gleaner news team was also barred by the soldiers.
Later, Dr. Carby made a telephone call, and another soldier recognised her and allowed her and the officials on to the wharf premises, but still not inside the warehouse. To downplay the embarrassment, Dr. Carby and Mr. Chen shook hands outside the warehouse to signify what should have been a more substantial handing-over ceremony.
In the wake of Hurricane Ivan, Texaco Jamaica donated US$150,000 in blankets, tarpaulins, generators, bottled water, food items, tents, and plastic sheeting to the ODPEM. Sometime ago, the items were delivered to the ODPEM warehouse at Berth 11 at Kingston Container Terminals, awaiting what should have been yesterday's official handing-over ceremony.
