Send PM copy of flood article

THE EDITOR: Can someone please present a copy of Peter O’Connor’s article in the October 29 Newsday to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. The article spells out the flooding problem and the solution: keep the underground drainage systems clear.

The one thing you will notice in the article is the absence of any reference to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM). And rightly so. The operative word in the name is “preparedness,” ie, if it does its job all year round there should be no disaster.

It should be, no matter how important, a silent organisation. We should never hear of the ODPM or have all the bacchanal about who has been in charge and whether he should or should not resign.

How many people are employed by the ODPM? What have they been doing all year, particularly in the dry season, to ensure that when the rains come the water has somewhere to go other than into houses where all contents are destroyed and occupants have nothing dry to wear and nowhere dry to sleep?

Should the worst happen, despite its best efforts, has the ODPM prepared safe, dry places for affected people to go, where they can find clean water, canned food and dry clothes and bedding?

I say again, let Rowley see the article.

ROY PURVES, Maraval