Kamla takes Government to task over failure to provide relief to citizens affected by Tropical Storm Bret
Leader of the Opposition Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP, on Friday 23rd June, 2017 moved a motion to adjourn the sitting of the House of Representatives on a definite matter of urgent public importance namely, “the failure of the government to provide adequate resources and relief in a timely, effective and efficient manner to alleviate the hardship, suffering, anguish and distress of the population in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Bret”.
In moving the motion, the Opposition Leader said the Government’s failure to deliver to citizens at a time when so many are in great need proves that this Government is the most incompetent the country has seen.
Mrs Persad-Bissessar lamented the lack of proper communication from the Government agencies, noting that misinformation was put out before the storm, during the storm and after it passed. She criticised the Prime Minister for being “missing in action, working hard in Tobago playing golf”, and accused Government Ministers of engaging in “disaster tourism” by touring flooded areas with photographers and camera crews. The Opposition Leader reminded the Government that they also neglected their own supporters in South Trinidad, and criticized the Member of Parliament for Moruga/Tableland for failing to assist those affected in that constituency.
Mrs Persad-Bissessar stated that for the allocation to the national programme for upgrade of drainage channels, only 15 % of the funds allocated were used. With regard to the construction of a reservoir and associated works in Caparo, the Opposition Leader said that out of the $25 million allocated for this project in 2016, 7% of that was utilized. She stated that miniscule amounts of the monies allocated for such programmes in the Budgets for fiscal 2015 and 2016 were utilized.
The Opposition Leader described it as a “crying shame” that four days after the storm not a single grant has been given out to persons affected by flooding. She reminded members that it was a different case under the previous People’s Partnership Government, where MPs and Ministers would be on the ground providing immediate relief in the form of hampers or food cards. Mrs Persad-Bissessar noted that while the Minister of Communications said he is satisfied with the Government’s response in the aftermath of this disaster, citizens are not. She praised the efforts of the local government councillors who responded, but were overwhelmed by the severity of the situation, adding that the Regional Corporations did not have equipment to rescue some people were marooned in their homes.
The Opposition Leader stated that successive cuts were made to the allocation for the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), from $67 million in 2014-2015 to $37 million in 2016, and now $20 million in this fiscal year, which could impact the ODPM’s capability in managing disasters. One such area, she stated, was in the preparation of shelters. Mrs Persad-Bissessar noted that the Ramai Trace Hindu School was designated as a shelter by the ODPM, but it is a construction site. In addition, the Debe Hindu School was flooded, and could not be accessed. She questioned what plans the Government had for disease control, as well as impact assessments arising out the events this week.
The Opposition Leader stressed that the Government has failed in coordinating the relief efforts to the thousands affected by the severe flooding as a result of the passage of Tropical Storm Bret and called on the Government to bring immediate relief to citizens.