Jamaican News

PM HOLNESS RESPONDS TO EARTHQUAKE IN EASTERN CARIBBEAN, CALLS-IN ODPEM TO UPDATE ON COUNTRY’S STATE OF PREPAREDNESS

 

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says he is thankful that so far, there have been no reported deaths or serious injuries arising from the magnitude 6.9 earthquake which impacted Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines Wednesday morning.

Prime Minister Holness says Jamaica stands ready to provide assistance to both countries in ensuring as speedy as return to normalcy as possible.

Prime Minister Holness said: “The catastrophic earthquakes that affected Japan and Ecuador recently, as well as this closer-to-home tremor that impacted Barbados and St. Vincent, bring into sharp focus the importance of disaster preparedness. These events underscore how critical it is to have effective protocols in place to respond and coordinate relief effort in the event of an earthquake. Given the importance of heightening Jamaica’s preparedness, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management is being called-in to update me on the country’s state of preparedness and apprise the Government of areas of need as well as the protocols governing response to a major earthquake.”

The prime minister continued: “The Government recognizes that while earthquakes are events over which no one has control, a significant difference can be made to how devastating its impact is if there is an integrated and effectively coordinated response protocol in place. As chairman of the National Disaster Preparedness Committee, I am engaging ODPEM to ensure that as far as possible, all the critical first responders and relief agencies are in a state of preparedness and able to function effectively in the event of a serious earthquake or similarly catastrophic event. Public education will also be an area of focus as it is important to inform citizens of steps they can take to better prepare for a catastrophic earthquake as well as the role they can play in safeguarding lives in the event there is one.”

Commentary

PM Holness Provides Leadership

Despite our problems locally we have never failed to help in times of disasters. PM Holness has continued the tradition we have as Jamaicans ” by being our brother’s keeper”.

“As a people we have always reached out and gave out of our limited resources … that is why God continues to bless us” remarked a Mother named Martha, from a non traditional church who asked not to be photographed or named in full.

Vision commends Andrew Holness for this visionary gestures and housekeeping initiative by ensuring our homestead is also in order.

We wish the affected countries well and grieve with you in your loss.

There is no substitute for sound leadership Prime Minister Holness.

Commentary by Hopeton O’Connor -Dennie is Senior International Correspondent & Photojournalist for Vision Newspaper Canada.

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