Dear Editor,

Over the weekend, my family and I travelled to south St Elizabeth to offer help to the communities in the wake of the hurricane. We carried supplies, intending to deliver them to a command centre or shelter, but we found none.

We asked locals to introduce us to those in need. We visited 14 families and assisted them with water and small food packages. Of the 14 families, only one had spoken to an officer from the Ministry of Agriculture about his farm. None had yet seen a social worker to assess their needs or get assistance. While some had seen the Member of Parliament (MP) in the area distributing packages, he had not yet visited their houses.

The need is great. For every 10 houses we saw, my layman’s estimate is that seven had significant roof damage. We have heard it may take up to six weeks to restore electricity and cellular communication in the area. Despite this crisis, the light of love and care, seen in the groundswell of volunteerism, has been a true beacon of hope, demonstrating the real Jamaican spirit.

Unfortunately, even with goodwill from caring citizens, one social worker in the constituency working with the MP is not enough to meet the needs on the ground. It is impractical for people to travel to either the MP’s office or the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) office if they have not seen the social worker to do their assessment. Most are not even aware that this option exists. Additionally, there should be no requirement to provide an ID and tax registration number to receive an aid package from the MLSS in these circumstances.

With cellular connections limited, power lines down, and transportation compromised by debris and damaged roadways, our national response must include:

*Command centres: These will allow aid and aid workers to be efficiently organised and deployed to families in need. These centres should be centrally located, and can be equipped with internet access using a satellite link and manned by the MLSS, Red Cross, Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), and volunteers. Town criers can notify each community of available assistance and locations.

*Increased number of responders: More boots are needed on the ground. A call for volunteers, an increased number of social workers, and the engagement of the JDF should be considered.

*Coordination among political representatives: Sitting MPs, councillors, and caretakers, who know and may be better able to reach the residents, must be practically engaged with clear and collaborative roles in the response effort.

Let us put our best efforts and talents to the task of helping those battered by Beryl to get back on their feet.

Patricia Duncan Sutherland

People’s National Party shadow spokesperson on social transformation and social protection