Punishment coming for persons who ignore emergency evacuation warnings

The Government is moving to prosecute persons who refuse to heed evacuation warnings during periods of emergency.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, told a press conference yesterday that the Government would be seeking to implement aspects of the Disaster Risk Management Act shortly to allow for such prosecutions.

He says the country has reached a stage where it cannot continue to put the lives of first responders at risk because persons continue to disobey the call for evacuation.
          
The Disaster Risk Management Act was passed in Parliament several months ago, signed by the Governor General and gazetted.

The Act seeks to strengthen the country’s overall national disaster preparedness, emergency management and response processes and mechanisms through a range of measures.