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Contact:
Claudia Monlouis
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| Dawn French - NEMO Director |
Thursday, July 24, 2003 - The membership of the National Emergency
Management Office (NEMO) supports introducing the Powers of Evacuation Act to
Parliament, with a view to strengthening legislation guiding the organisation’s
mandate. The issue was raised at a consultation held on July 15, to review legal
instruments which relate directly to NEMO.
Director of NEMO Dawn French says, should this proposal become law, it will be
used as the final means to remove uncooperative persons from risky areas to
safety, during the pending passage of a disaster.
“Even if you have a community that agrees that an evacuation is required, you
may still have one or two persons who may not wish to move out regardless of
what the government, the emergency services and their own families may tell
them,” Miss French said. “And in the interest of saving the lives of the
potential victims and emergency workers, then that Act would be used as a last
resort.”
The Emergency Powers Act No.5 of 1995 and the Disaster Preparedness Response Act
No. 13 of 2000, were reviewed with modifications made to both pieces of
legislation. French explained that the modifications are now being integrated
into the initial draft document and a follow up consultation is now being
considered.
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