MULTI- AGENCY APPROACH NEEDED FOR SOUTH COAST COMMUNITIES AT RISK

MULTI- AGENCY APPROACH NEEDED FOR SOUTH COAST COMMUNITIES AT RISK

Minister with responsibility for Special Projects, Daryl Vaz, has informed Parliament that the situation at Caribbean Terrace and other South Coast communities at risk of damage by the sea is under consideration by the relevant Government agencies.

Minister Vaz was responding in Parliament on Tuesday March 9 to a Private Members' Motion by Opposition M.P. Sharon Hay Webster which called on the government to move to safeguard the communities following damage caused by tropical storms between 2004 and 2007.

"As it relates to NEPA, which is the regulatory agency, they are prepared, and have indicated what rehabilitation is to be done which includes re-vegetation and dune creation....A lot of what is being discussed here comes back to financial constraints."

Noting that the situation was technical and required multi-agency input and co-operation, the Minister gave his assurance that he would be prepared to pursue the matter to find the best solution.

"At this point in time...I am prepared to try to see exactly what has happened and what has not happened and see what can happen. But I can make no commitments...this crosses boundaries and involves the National Works Agency, the Ministry of Housing and several other government Ministries and agencies."

Prime Minister Bruce Golding recently instructed the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), to prepare a report on the nation's earthquake response readiness for submission to Cabinet.