Minister: No request for social help by storm victims

HOUSING Minister Camille Robinson-Regis said on Wednesday no requests had yet been made for financial help by victims of Tuesday's stormy weather, replying to an urgent question in the House of Representatives. She said tarpaulins were distributed for homes which had lost their roofs.

Chaguanas East Vandana Mohit had posed a question to an absent Minister of Social Development Donna Cox, asking what immediate emergency mechanisms were instituted or contemplated to help victims of flooding on Tuesday and/or Wednesday.

Robinson-Regis said, "In the same vein as my colleague the Minister of Works and Transport (Rohan Sinanan) indicated, there was almost immediate run-off as it related to quite a number of areas and, consequently, up to now we have not received any reports of persons who are in need of any assistance from the Ministry of Social Development."

She said if the ministry did get such reports, it was in a good position to determine the extent of the recovery required and would respond accordingly.

Robinson-Regis then read out a long list of assistance available to flood victims, such as $500 in emergency food support, and up to $10,000 for household items, $2,500 to replace a ruined washing machine, $20,000 for minor household repairs, and up to $1,000 to replace damaged clothing.

Mohit asked if the ministry had liaised with regional corporations to get information to ensure ministry staff were properly deployed in all of this.

Robinson-Regis said, in line with an established process, the ministry was already in touch with disaster management units in all affected corporations.

"And, to date, we have had no requests because, as my colleague said, the run off was swift.

"Where there has been roof damage, we have provided tarpaulins and we have also provided cleaning supplies in several instances."

Mohit, in another supplemental question, challenged the minister's reply by suggesting the provision of tarpaulins had indicated requests for assistance.

Robinson-Regis retorted that in areas with "proper representatives" like Port of Spain, Laventille and Diego Martin, MPs and councillors had been out in the field and had given out what was necessary. She said if further information comes to hand, the ministry would get involved.

"We are not in the habit of encouraging flood politics. Consequently we have already done our part if it was necessary. We have also contracted the Self Help Commission and the corporations have been activated."