ABOUT 24 HOURS before Barbados staged its emergency traffic drill, Minister of Social Care Dr Denis Lowe addressed the United Nations Economic and Social Council in New York.

He focused international attention on a strategic goal of the Thompson administration, should a disaster strike.

"The Government of Barbados," he told the council, "is committed to the completion of an innovative Food Security Policy that seeks to lower the cost of basic foods, as well as enable the nation to feed itself for an extended period in the event of a natural or man-made disaster."

His speech on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday's drill underscore the urgent need for effective planning and implementation of a national plan that would allow the country not simply to get people out of Bridgetown in an emergency, but to help people get back on their feet, and return to a state of normalcy as quickly as possible after a disaster.

If Wednesday's drill taught us anything, it is that more and better arrangements must be made to minimise damage and disruption. Instead of the two to three hours which the officials had estimated it would take to clear The City of vehicles, it required about 30 minutes. In a real and unexpected emergency it would require much more time. Remember what happened last year with the earth tremor which scared the daylights out of many people and clogged the streets with traffic?

It was chaotic. A way must be found to prevent a re-currence.

One thing we know about the situation in Barbados is that Bajans have been lulled into a state of complacency, due largely to the fact that the country has been spared hurricane damage for more than half a century.

In addition, there is a genuine feeling that the emergency preparedness and mitigation systems need to be modernised and well oiled.

Some key questions arise:

l are we currently in a position, according to the minister at the UN, to feed ourselves in an extended period should tragedy strike?

l how about the ability of the emergency services to respond quickly and efficiently to prevent disorderly conduct such as looting or to clear the streets, the byways and the traffic arteries?

l is there a stockpile of building materials and other essential supplies to get the country back on its feet as quickly as possible?

l would the health service be in a position to handle a flood of victims seeking care that would save lives and ease pain?

Answers to those questions would relieve people's anxiety.

The Government must take Bajans into their confidence by telling them of all the arrangements. But Bajans shouldn't expect any magic. We are a nation of complainers – we complain about the slightest thing that goes awry, but should recognise that we have a responsibility to ensure our own safety as well.

That said, the Government does have an over-riding responsibility to have the systems in working order, should the worst come to the worst.

It should be obvious after Wednesday that more drills are required, and people should be prepared to accept some inconvenience for the cause of safety and our sanity.

That isn't too much to ask.