Long road to recovery: Learning the lessons

Fri Jan 03, 2013

As we begin the long and difficult road to recovery following the devastation on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, it is vital that we learn the lessons that such disasters reveal, but which time and again, we ignore.{{more}}

After each disaster, there is a flurry to provide relief and to embark on hurried rehabilitation, but as soon as we seem to make some progress in this regard, we get back to old habits.

This time, our approach should first begin with an understanding of the context in which the disaster occurred. Unfortunately, the tendency to seek recourse in cheap religiosity or politicking is attractive to some, but we simply cannot ignore the underlying facts.

The Christmas tragedy was neither a “freak” occurrence nor likely any act of punishment for our sins. Sinful though we undoubtedly are, we are no different to the billions of others on this planet with the same human frailties.

The events of December 24 and 25 are indicative of a wider global phenomenon which has caused all sorts of irregular weather patterns and unleashed destructive forces around the world. Egypt had snow, Britain was struck by tropical storms; and intense rain, ravaging tornadoes, tsunamis and raging floods have all wreaked havoc around the globe. Many of us refer to these developments as “climate change”, though the more scientific and learned warn that it is more of the nature of “climate variability”, which if not addressed, can lead to permanent climate change. What is important for us is that this “climate variability” increases our vulnerability and threatens our viability.

We are not without blame for unwittingly facilitating the extent of the damage. Our reckless attitudes towards waste disposal and blatant disregard for the environment, contribute to the degree of flooding. The dumping of garbage in drains, streams and rivers make flooding during heavy rainfall almost inevitable. Deforestation and lack of attention to protection of the watershed have devastating consequences.

On the matter of deforestation, three types of citizens are most culpable. The rich build their castles and dream houses, often on elevated ground, covering large areas with concrete and opening the door to the channelling of water downhill. The very poor, faced with a desperate struggle for survival, carry out shifting cultivation on slopes with negative consequences. And, the marijuana farmers in the hills, in pursuit of their lucrative trade, do damage to our forest cover.

All these issues must be addressed in our recovery effort. There are temporary issues, including short-term government policies, as proposed by the Opposition, which need to be put in place immediately for urgent relief. But more than these, we need a comprehensive land use plan, which must be rigidly enforced and not subverted by political expedience. A valuation needs to be carried out of what are referred to as ecosystem services, so as to determine the value that the natural environment delivers and how much money will be needed to replicate those services lost.

We cannot afford to be rebuilding homes in high risk areas, and our building code must be strictly enforced and, where necessary, strengthened. Our cavalier attitude towards national land use has to be stopped and a truly national effort made to reconstruct along “green” lines to avoid the needless repetition of such disasters every year or two. Natural hazards will always be with us, but there are examples, Cuba being one, of what preparation, proper regulation and enforced responses can do to avoid unnecessary loss of life, limb and property when such hazards affect us.

Finally, this is yet another opportunity for a truly national approach to the recovery effort. The response of Vincentians, at home and abroad, has been highly commendable, and no doubt, our resilience and determination will reap rewards. But national cohesiveness will make us all the more effective and increase our efficiency. There are still disturbing signs at the political level, in spite of the noble words on both sides, that there is reluctance to forego political gain at the next general elections in favour of national development. The image of both parliamentary groups working together, jointly visiting affected areas, can work wonders for our people; is that too much to ask of them?