Government responds speedily to plight of Dennery residents
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Contact: Shannon Lebourne
Thursday 7 October 2010 – The government of Saint Lucia has expressed its full commitment to assisting residents of Dennery who were affected by hours of inclement weather on Wednesday.
Several senior government officials including the Parliamentary Representative for Dennery South, Honourable Edmund Estephane, Tourism Minister Honourable Allan Chastanet, Education Minister Honourable Arsene James, and Communication and Works Minister Honourable Guy Joseph, were on the ground to assess the situation early Wednesday.
Acting Prime Minister Honourable Lenard “Spider” Montoute who visited the affected residents Thursday morning, says government will provide relief in whatever way possible to the affected residents.
“We want to give the residents of Dennery and Au Leon every assurance that government is going to do everything in its power to assist them in this time of distress. We are going to ensure that the health needs of the residents are attended to and we will ensure whatever remedial and stabilisation works that are necessary will be done. If it becomes necessary for residents to be relocated, government will ensure that this is done.”
The inclement weather which dumped inches of rain on the east cost community, caused immense flooding and destroyed residential property and community infrastructure.
Communications and Works Minister Honourable Guy Joseph, says he is thankful that there was no loss of life because the devastation could have been a lot worse.
“I am quite happy with the level of assistance and response that we received both from the residents of the community and the various support groups like the Red Cross and the Fire Service. I think everyone responded quickly once they understood the gravity of the situation. The assessments are still ongoing I know the Acting Prime Minister went out with a delegation from the Ministry of Communication and Works. The Chief Engineer also went on a site visit on Wednesday with officials from NEMO to make a determination as to whether some residents in Au Leon will have to be evacuated from their homes given the threat of further rains.”
Saint Lucians who can afford, are asked to make donations through the Saint Lucia Red Cross to assist the affected residents.
Drinking water is one of the major needs as there is no pipe born water to the affected areas.
However the Water and Sewage Company (WASCO) is working around the clock to restore the supply.
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