Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter

With the just-concluded general election, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has said it intends to push the new administration to put in place stringent procedures for the establishment of a relocation policy.

A few years ago, a committee was established to draft a relocation policy but some players changed portfolios and so the proposed draft was sidelined, Ronald Jackson, director general of ODPEM, said.

Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, Mr. Jackson said that with a new government soon to take office, mechanisms must be put in place to ensure that there is continuity in terms of the drafting of the policy, even if personnel are changed.

The Jamaica Labour Party is to replace the People's National Party as the government, following the September 3 general election.

"This policy would tremendously address the incidents of highly vulnerable communities. It can't be business as usual where people live in vulnerable areas where we are constantly finding resources for these people (whenever a disaster strikes)," Mr. Jackson said.

He stressed that a policy must be put in place.

Vulnerable areas

Mr. Jackson cited Portland Cottage in Clarendon, Old Harbour Bay, St. Catherine, and Manchioneal in Portland as vulnerable areas. These communities are usually devastated following a hurricane. Both Portland Cottage and Old Harbour Bay were severely affected by Hurricane Dean which hit the island August 19.

Mr. Jackson noted that after the 1979 floods, residents of New Market were relocated to Lewisville, also in St. Elizabeth. Thus, there are examples of how the process could be carried out.

Said he: "We need to start to do that and look at it in a realistic way."

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com