Blackmoore questions effectiveness of sub-committees in NEPO

NEPO held its AGM on Monday
NEPO held its AGM on Monday

Chairman of National Emergency Planning Organization (NEPO) and Minister for National Security, Rayburn Blackmoore, has said there are too many sub-committees in the organization and he is not sure how effective they are.

“Going forward therefore I think that we need to be more creative in the manner in which we do things in so far as holding people responsible to ensure that they perform their respective task,” Blackmoore said at the opening ceremony of NEPO’s Annual General Meeting on Monday.

NEPO is the national coordinating authority for emergencies and disasters in Dominica.

According to Blackmoore, in order to go forward there need to be a clear perspective as to whether the various sub-committees have the necessary tools and requisite resources to perform their tasks.

“I believe that one thing that we need to investigate in order to get a clear perspective as to whether the various sub-committees have the tools of trade and requisite resources in order to meet the mandate,” he explained. “That is something we have to examine going forward.”

Blackmoore continued, “One of the things I have been discussing with the permanent secretary is to find out as to whether it makes sense to provide a special head which would be under the care and supervision of Mr. (Don) Corriette and his staff, in order to ensure that the various sub-committees can have the resources in order to do their task. It is one thing to have names of sub-committees on paper, but it’s another thing is to make sure that they are functional and to be quite honest with you, I do not want to be part of any dead organ agencies. I would need to know that the resources that you need in order to carry out your task, because your task is very important.”

Blackmoore further stated that NEPO need to ensure that, “we do not only meet to talk but to ensure that we put in place the mitigating factors that we need to make our lives safer.”

“Let us take our task seriously and let us do what we have to do as a collective,” he noted.

He mentioned also that there are so many hazards and natural disaster prospects that must be taken into consideration.

“We are very volcanic in our nature and based on what I have been advised, God forbid, that the Caribbean is due for a serious earthquake…so we have to prepare ourselves,” Blackmoore said.

At the AGM there were reports from the Dominica Met Office on the 2014 Hurricane Season. The forecast for the 2015 season was also presented.

The AGM will also review disaster-related events that affected the island in 2014.

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13 Comments

  1. grell
    June 9, 2015

    Blackmoore a disaster is due to wipe the labor party out,you all need to be cleansed.

  2. Titiwi
    June 9, 2015

    Maybe the Hon. Blackmoore was referring to NEP and I would agree with him. But seriously, for apopulation of 70,000 we have far too many committees, meetings, report writing and not enough action. But the govt. must send the example first. How many ministers do we have, how many constituencies, how many civil servants per capita? We are like someone suffering from water head. We should cut our costs and work, I say WORK, to become more efficient.

  3. original hold dem
    June 9, 2015

    stuppppeessssssssssssssss doh want to hear mister, he confused

  4. June 9, 2015

    The Honourable Minister, Mr. Rayburn Blackmore is quite right. Too many hands does spoil the soup. Another example of outstanding Labour leadership. Labour for life!!!!

  5. Ti Shikah
    June 8, 2015

    Mr. Blackmore we need to look seriously at the establishment of an emergency operations center. ( If one exists, please tell me). This emergency operations center must be fully equipped and staffed and must be able to deliver relevant news bulletins to ALL functioning radio stations during and after a disaster. It must have amenities such as showers and a kitchenette and if possible an area for press conferences. I know some people will attempt to ridicule me but think of it seriously and you just might realize it’s a good idea.

  6. ISO
    June 8, 2015

    What so ever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me. I am ready to leave my FC office and join in the struggle.

  7. John Paul
    June 8, 2015

    Is this a very recent post or are readers just fed up with the talk about resources for dead beat organs of the State?
    Maybe it is personal since Blackmore found the resources to subdue Farmers who have been begging for a reasonable road to their farms and were left with no resort but to block the EOL to get attention
    Talk on Blackmore let us see how you walk the walk in this portfolio

  8. UserName
    June 8, 2015

    What happen are these ministers that… Taking them WORD FOR WORD it is truly laughable their utterances. Mr. Blackmoore said there are TOO MANY sub-committees in the organization and he is not sure how effective they are!!!!…..BUT in order to go forward there need to be a clear perspective as to whether the various sub-committees have the necessary tools and requisite resources to perform their tasks……He further stated “I do not want to be part of any dead organ agencies” implying that names of sub-committees on paper are not functional (for at least 14 years) and for such reasons the ongoing discussions with the permanent secretary to find out as to whether it makes sense to provide a special head which would be under the care and supervision of Mr. (Don) Corriette and his staff. Hon Min. on the heels of the Hurricane Season you sounding worst than a storm tossing and turning everything upside down, inside out… blow your wind.

  9. Shaka zulu
    June 8, 2015

    If the NEPO is the national coordinating body I am guessing it was set up by parliament with the sub committees being part of the structure developed. If that is the case then parliament should have figured out all the bells and whistles before they are given a mandatory role. If the minister has information that the current set up is not effective in its ultimate goal of making Dominica safe then he should bring to parliament to restructure. If it is not set up by parliament then Mr. Blackmore should leave to experts to handle the organization and stop sounding like a Master that got his shit together cause we all know he does not. To make such statements without showing where you have seen ineffective operations as a result of all these subcommittee is nonsensical. I would like to ask him what are his suggestions on preparing for an earthquake. I hope he is considering that when building those houses on hillsides for people.

  10. Intuitive
    June 8, 2015

    DNO this is really poor reporting; the piece should have included at least a paragraph or two on the number and nature of the sub-committees, their mandates and functions and link that to what the minister said; this way readers could get an informed analysis and are better able to understand his concerns and whether we agree or otherwise. Just wanted to ensure that there is some investigative approach to the articles you pen.

  11. Sue
    June 8, 2015

    Blackmoore would know all about talk, talk, ‘Parlay’, ‘Parlay’- all talk and no action. He wrote the book on that. No body is taking Blackmoore serious because he has already blew whatever capital he had. e.g threatening to arrest peaceful demonstrators and also wanting to go after Salisbury farmers and more…..

    He is better off as a police corporal….. running after robbers and thieves.

  12. alas
    June 8, 2015

    i wonder if that meeting addressed issues with Disaster Vulnerability Reduction programmes.
    i know there is a fund.
    I have heard that gardahkan is working on the Pod Case to Delice road……although i hear nothing of it on de ground…..de spanish guys selling bar-b-que chicken and cutting hair in pottersville.
    I remember when de football coach and players had that disaster when de road collapsed.
    i am also aware that there is a project proposal for pond case to Emerald pool and another continuing from the latter towards castle bruce.
    these are de issues of concern that will effect our readiness for disasters……and a serious employment engine for unemployed Dominicans.
    ranting about sub-committees……
    what happen you want to put extra control on where and to whom de money goes??
    After reading this story i think it is fair to say that de minister is full of hot air. Nothing new to say. I am not inspired

  13. real possie
    June 8, 2015

    One thing say what you will about B-moore but the man takes his job very seriously, I know by the time they move him again his department will be in order.

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