THE SCIENCE of predicting the development, timing and paths of storms is inexact. It is predictable however that storms will come. So Jamaica has, over the past two decades, developed an emergency response system to deal with what happens after natural disasters. The jury is still out on how well-prepared we are ahead of the strikes.
For example, Desmond McKenzie, the Mayor of Kingston, has been expressing concerns for several months about the lack of funds to clear the Corporate Area's debris-choked gullies. With news of the approach of Tropical Storm Charley, the Ministry of Local Government announced the release of $4-million to help clear drains and gullies. This is not only inadequate but may have been just a little bit too late. There are some things in the management of our society that are impatient of debate. They just must be addressed as a matter of course. Failure to do otherwise will cost us more in the long run.
The sudden development and strengthening of Tropical Storm Charley and its bearing down on Jamaica within a two-day period underscores, once again, the necessity to be prepared at all times.
We reiterate too, a point made previously in these columns, that there must be a more aggressive public health/public education campaign targeting persons who live in close proximity to gullies. This should be accompanied by an intentional, focused plan of action by the National Solid Waste Management Authority, Metropolitan Parks and Markets and other garbage-collecting agencies to clear rubbish from these communities. Quite apart from the unhygienic practice of some of the people who live nearby to dump rubbish in these waterways, there is the reality that often garbage trucks do not visit these areas as often as they do others.
Municipal and public health authorities have to connect the dots. We can hardly blame people for dumping rubbish in places they see as the nearest convenient spots when alternative arrangements are not in place to remove their garbage.
It must be acknowledged, too, that the refuse that chokes these gullies often come from far upstream, far removed from the point where most of it is accumulated. Perhaps this is an area where the Anti-Litter law could have been given more teeth the appointment of wardens to monitor how factories and business places are dumping their unwanted material such as old equipment and used cartons etc. and which somehow end up floating through gullies during heavy showers of rain. Failure to address some of these problems early, will continue to affect the society in the worst possible way, in the long run.
Perhaps we should be grateful that this was not a full-force hurricane and so more of us will have managed to weather this storm much better than would otherwise be the case. We should remember too that the Atlantic hurricane season is far from over. In the normal course of things, it is rare for an island to be hit twice or three times in any one season. But we should take the steps to be prepared and not take any chances.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
