Disaster déjà vu

Laura Redpath, Senior Gleaner Writer

In 2008, Tropical Storm Gustav brought a wave of destruction, impacting more than 200 homes, and Prime Minister Bruce Golding said he intended to address the continued occupation of disaster areas.

He even established a task force to address the issue.

Unfortunately, history repeated itself last week with another wave of destruction.

Tropical depression 16, which was upgraded to Tropical Storm Nicole as it passed Jamaica, left the country in a state with a repair bill of more than $10 billion, more than 200 communities surrounded by water and inaccessible, and more than 150 houses damaged or destroyed. Up to yesterday, 13 people had been reported killed while two remained missing.

Golding, in yesterday's sitting of Parliament, noted that with the $10.6 billion worth of repairs to be made to road infrastructure, it was "not possible" to make room for $5-6 billion of welfare funds.

A September 2009 Gleaner editorial, addressing no-build zones during the aftermath of Gustav, brushes on events similar to those of last week:

The prime minister's immediate focus was in the area of Hope River in the parish of St Andrew, where several 'informal' homes, and even substantial houses, have been built in the river and precariously perched on badly eroded ravines. People lost their lives in the area, having been swept away in the raging flood waters of the river that, downstream, knocked out the ford in Harbour View.

Ronald Jackson, director general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), said persons, gvernment officials and residents are unwilling to comply with no-build zone requirements.

Biggest problem

"Enforcement is essentially the biggest problem," Jackson told The Gleaner. "While ODPEM may feel that no development should take place in an area, the developer can go ahead and seek an appeal."

Jackson also noted that disaster is an issue that stems from "poorly conceptualised development".

Golding's task force, which was under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport and Works, was implemented following Gustav's impact.

The task force was meant to define a 'no-build' boundary where construction is not allowed; put measures in place to monitor the area to prevent more building; identify persons currently living on lands declared a no-build zone; identify alternative lands for relocation and provide assistance for and enforce relocation.

Jackson said the informal settlements, established without proper planning or development, are "extremely frustrating".

"We have seen what rivers do in spate," he said. "Anyone can be swept away. Children can be swept away."