The newly-formed Constituency Councils are developing a number of programmes and projects aimed at empowering all Barbadians. Currently, they are involved in the island’s disaster preparedness planning.Director of constituency empowerment Kirk Humphrey said that the “councillors aim to gather as much information as possible on residents within their constituency, who may need assistance in the event of a disaster, particularly hurricanes”. “I like to think of our programme as being involved before the onset of a hurricane. Our councillors should know every street, every shop, every playing field, every elderly person, every vulnerable person, everything about their constituency . . .“And so, by having that level of information from the start, then we will be able to plan . . . And by knowing the people, and knowing their plight, we may be able to offer some solution to the problem before it arises.”Respective office
Humphrey maintained that people should visit their respective Constituency Council’s office and provide any relevant information, to ensure that they received the necessary assistance.He acknowledged that of the proposed 30, only 18 councils have been established to date; and he suggested that persons residing in these areas contact the Ministry of Social Care, or a nearby Constituency Council office, to present their information, which would would be treated in a confidential manner.He said that the Constituency Councils had arranged to provide the more vulnerable persons in the community with the necessary items to survive a disaster.Humphrey noted, however, that they would not allow persons to abuse this service, and advised anyone capable of obtaining their own supplies, to do so. “It will not be a free for all . . . We are here to assist persons, who in the event of a hurricane, may not be in a position to help themselves,” he said.Although the Constituency Councils are playing a major role in disaster preparedness and management, they do not supersede the Department of Emergency Management (DEM), which is the leading organisation mandated to handle these matters.Although the two organisations would be working closely together, their duties differ. He reported that the councillors had begun identifying certain areas that might experience flooding, but would pass on that information to the DEM, which would then make the necessary arrangements to ensure the safety of residents. He added that some of the councils had been undergoing training with the disaster emergency organisations, and had developed public education programmes on disaster awareness for their residents. (BGIS)
