PM and Govt’s flood response lacking

Member of Parliament for Oropouche West, Vidia Gayadeen-Gopeesingh is condemning, what she describes as, the lacklustre performance by the People National Movement Government during a time of crisis and chaos in the country.

On Sunday, during a tour of flood-hit areas in East Trinidad Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said a full review of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) will be done to, “ensure we have in the ODPM the personnel with the attitude and aptitude to respond to this kind of thing.”

In a press release yesterday, Gayadeen-Gopeesingh said Rowley’s statement shows his lack of preparedness coupled with the numerous allegations of corruption, mismanagement and wastage by the government. She said the chronic heartlessness displayed by the Rowley led Government has to come to an end.

“This week due to heavy rainfall the Oropouche West Constituency has been severely affected by flooding. During the month of June we were dealt a heavy blow by Tropical Storm Bret and it is evident the government has not learnt from their previous indiscretions. Every area that was previously affected has been dealt a double blow. This means the government does not know what they are doing or that they simply do not care.”

“The Minister of Works and Transport when interviewed on Thursday, said, ‘there is no way to eliminate flooding and we try our best to ensure that the channels are clean, but there’s just a certain volume of water that these channels can take, especially when you have a high tide. When the tide goes down the water flows out, so these are all factors’.”

Gayadeen-Gopeesingh said the inadequate response to the flooding crisis can be blamed by the lack of vision and leadership from the PM and his government. She said Rowley made it clear it was not feasible for him to be in the field and there was a ministerial team on the ground working.

“In fact the Honourable Prime Minister said, ‘everything is under control.’ I wonder who told him that? Perhaps he should wake up from his slumber. One ponders if he should remain in office. Thankfully for the Good Samaritans, we are able to bring relief to the distressed constituents. I wish to publicly commend all those who are currently working to rebuild and restore Oropouche West.”