MINISTER of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie says collaboration between the Government and citizens is necessary to minimise the effects of flooding in the country.

Speaking at a special meeting of the Hanover Municipal Corporation last week Thursday, McKenzie said the ministry will, in the next two to three months, embark on a sensitisation campaign to engage the public around proper flood mitigation.

“The country has been experiencing severe effects from the weather. What we are seeing now is that areas that were never affected before by flooding have been severely compromised, and the limited resources that are available at times are not adequate to respond to the needs that exist right across the various municipalities,” he pointed out.

In this regard, he said that mayors will be engaged to look at the approaches that are necessary for each parish during the upcoming hurricane season.

He encouraged the councillors “to adopt a different kind of approach to ensure that their communities are prepared for the hurricane season”.

“The challenge I am throwing out to the councillors of Hanover is for you to use your community meetings to speak to the various areas. You know the areas within the parish that are prone to flooding,” he said.

McKenzie emphasised that while the nation must prepare itself to face a very active hurricane season, the Government will do its part to ensure that the proper mitigation strategies are implemented.

“In June, we are going into a three-day orientation with all disaster coordinators across the country with a view to preparing ourselves for a very active hurricane season,” he outlined.

During the meeting, the Poor Relief Department was presented with a computer and a printer, while the workers of the department and councillors were presented with tablets.

— JIS