Tweet
Gov't says its won't declare Portland a disaster area
5:42 pm, Wed October 31, 2012
The government says it will not declare Portland a disaster area. Speaking at Wednesday's Jamaica House Media Briefing, Information Minister Sandrea Falconer, responded to calls for the declaration, owing to the pummelling the parish received from the passage of Hurricane Sandy last Wednesday.
The parish is among those in the eastern end of the island which were badly affected by hurricane.
In the days follwing Hurricane Sandy Member of Parliament for West Portland, Daryl Vaz, had said the parish should be declared a disaster zone in order to release the necessary support systems, as well as possible funding from overseas donors.
But the Information Minister today said that such a declaration could have adverse effects on Jamaica's tourism industry.
And President of the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association, Evelyn Smith, in an interview with RJR News, gave some support to the concern raised by the Information Minister.
While not outlining a definitive position on whether the parish should be declared a disaster zone, she said the situation in Portland requires a delicate balance.
At the same time Mrs. Smith says the situation should be managed in a way that ensures the appropriate assistance is given to Portland.
She added that there are also members of the JHTA in the parish, who are trying to recover from the effects of Hurricane Sandy.
Comment