The Editor, Sir:

This letter isin response to a Gleaner article entitled "Identify disaster zones - ODPEM wants corrupt developers brought to book". As an environmental engineer working in the United States I agree with the sentiment, but I must add that the Government agencies involved in granting permits for these developments be taken to task as well.

A permit application for any construction should be accompanied by the necessary engineering reports which plan and document the existing site conditions, as well as the planned post-development conditions. It should have been immediately apparent from those engineering documents that the development sites were in flood-prone areas.

Prior to beginning the permitting process, the following items should accompany the permit application: A complete legal description of the property; A site plan; a plan of access to property; flood plain information: if the property is in a flood plain, a separate permit should be required; water or wastewater (sewer) permits.

I am, etc.,

GAVIN

wickedman@gmail.com

Orlando, Florida

Via Go-Jamaica