1,000 sandbags for Sangre Grande Regional Corporation

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) yesterday sent 1,000 sandbags to the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation in preparation for flooding which may occur in the aftermath of heavy rainfall expected by today.

Yesterday Captain Neville Wint told Newsday the request was made and arrangements finalised to have the sandbags made available. He said the ODPM is in the process of planning and coordinating with the first responders as well as other stakeholders to prepare for the expected showers. Wint said while this is taking place, the ODPM is also involved in carrying out a needs assessment with the regional corporations, the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Social Development in the aftermath of the flooding in South, Central and East Trinidad.

He said there were no requests for food, blankets, torch lights and other items from the ODPM but assured the ODPM is well stocked with rubber dinghies and five of those dinghies were used by members of the Defence Force during the flooding throughout the country.

Yesterday Deputy CEO of the ODPM Dave Williams was in a stakeholders meeting and could not be reached for comment on the criticism by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley over the organisation’s handling of the flooding. Williams has said he has no intention of resigning.

Wint said yesterday he had no comment to make on the decision by Rowley to initiate a shake up at the organisation.