KINGSTOWN – The People’s Movement for Change (PMC) says a bi-partisan agency should overlook the reconstruction after the Christmas floods, adding that it fear a repeat of 2010, when some persons affected by Hurricane Tomas are yet to receive help, while persons not affected have received disaster relief.
“Our recent history over the past 30 years has shown us that when events like this happen, the resulting relief and rehabilitation is skewed, unjust, and inequitable,” said Oscar Allen, chairman of the non-partisan, socio-political group, at a press conference on Wednesday.
“In this crisis, we are determined and we have asked the leaders to come together so that the process can be equitable and just and progressive. We also want to suggest that apart from the political leaders having a hand, the many voluntary organization and individuals who are giving support need to have a mechanism to show that their support is being used transparently.
Nine persons died and three are missing as a result of the floods and landslides triggered by a trough system Christmas Eve. The extreme weather also left extensive damage to housing, public infrastructure, and agriculture.
Allen’s comments came two days after Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said it is better for persons not affected by the disaster to receive aid, than for penny-pinching public servants to be so discerning that persons affected by the disasters are inadvertently refused help.
He said that now is probably a good time for the reactivation of the National Monitoring and Consultative Mechanism, which scrutinizes the conduct of political parties during general elections.
“As we in the PMC opens our hearts and our consciences and our intelligence to our fellow citizens, we are asking the Vincentian public that in this time of healing and rebuilding of the infrastructure, … to consider coming together behind our political leaders and alongside our political leaders in a very firm and sustained way to ensure that the relief is done properly, adequately and equitably.”
Asked if he has any evidence that the reconstruction was being politicized, Allen said:“One does not wait for evidence of wrong, or for a break-in in your house to guard it.
“We have a history, and there are people suffering now from the efforts of Tomas who have been hit and have not been helped, while, on the other hand, there are people who have not been hit and have been helped. So, the history is there.”
Allen said he noted that Leader of the Opposition, Arnhim Eustace, had complained of not being present a disaster response meeting the Government held four days after the disaster.
The meeting was attended by local and regional officials.
In responding to the Eustace’s comments, Gonsalves said that the nation is at war with nature, and when war breaks out, soldiers do not await and invitation – they report for duty.
“… that is disturbing and the Prime Minister himself seems to have the disposition that this is my work, I would do it, and he has been doing a significant amount of work.
“We consider two things: the nation is in a near crisis and when that happens and as everybody’s saying you want all hands on deck. And, without too much evidence — and it’s early — of disequilibrium in the effort, we want to make sure it doesn’t happen,” Allen said.
He disagreed with the Prime Minister’s position regarding the soldiers reporting for duty, saying it would have been “improper” for Opposition members to turn up at the meeting.
“They didn’t even know what the mandate of the meeting was, or that it was called. They couldn’t have attended something they didn’t know about,” Allen said.
During a national address on radio on Dec. 26, Gonsalves invited all local contractors, and foreign contractor who have done work for the government, to the meeting at 10 a.m. on Dec. 28.
Allen also noted that Gonsalves had said that he had consulted several persons, including former prime minister, Sir James Mitchell, about a donors’ conference. (CMC)
