Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Kazim Hosein has assured all citizens affected by this week’s torrential rains that the ministry through its 14 municipal corporations and state agencies will continue to do all in its power to ensure that all affected areas return to a sense of normalcy in the shortest time possible.
In a statement and via his social media account, the minister said CEPEP was on the ground and officials from respective agencies were also providing assistance.
Minister Hosein said he, Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan, along with technical officials from the respective Ministries, chairman of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation Dr Allen Sammy, CEO Betty Ali and personnel of the Disaster Management Units visited the flood affected areas yesterday.
He said in some areas where the floodwaters have subsided, clean-up operations are underway by CEPEP teams and Public Health workers from the Corporations.
Minister Hosein said he met with residents of Mohess Road, Ramai Trace, Katwaroo Trace, Clarke Road and Debe where relief efforts by the Corporation’s Disaster Management Unit were underway with assistance from the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers, the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force and Coast Guard personnel.
He added, “residents have been receiving mattresses, hot meals and water from NGOs, corporate entities and unaffected citizens from the Penal/Debe region.”
Minister Hosein explained that the Ministry has been utilising, “an all-of-Corporation approach to emergency management and we are deploying as many resources as possible to ensure that the lives of residents return to normal as soon as possible.”
He also praised mayors and chairmen of the 14 municipal corporations, especially newly-elected councillors, some of whom have not even been sworn into office for assisting those affected.