The efforts of the Dominican people to get back on their feet following the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria have made a great impression on UN Assistant Secretary-General and UN Development Programme (UNDP) Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Jessica Faieta.
The country was devastated by the Category 5 hurricane which struck the island on the night of September 18th, 2017.
“I am impressed by the people and how much they have already organised themselves, taking advantage of the support that UNDP is providing,” said Faieta, who got a first-hand view of the significant physical damage on her recent visit to the island.
“Dominican’s energy is visible- the efforts to get back on their feet; in cleaning the communities; in making them pretty again; in enabling the kids to go back to school … even as they temporarily fix their houses,” she added.
In addition to the positive attitudes of those affected by the storm, the UNDP’s Regional Director said the application of the help that the international community is providing to the island is visible and encouraging.
Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Planning, Economic Development and Investment, Hon. Dr. John Collin McIntyre, who met with Ms. Faieta, commented on the partnership between the UNDP and the government of Dominica stating, “We are looking forward to the cooperation and the collaboration with the UNDP, most of all in sourcing the necessary expertise in the recovery process, especially with regards to rebuilding as we want to be prepared for the upcoming hurricane season and provide that cover to vulnerable groups.”
Ms. Faieta was in Dominica from Sunday 10th to Tuesday 12th December. She met with the Acting Prime Minister and a number of other government officials as well as UN personnel deployed to Dominica to support the relief and recovery.
She also took the opportunity to visit affected communities of Pointe Michel and Fond Cole, to speak with local persons and to view first-hand UNDP supported initiatives. In Pointe Michel, she met with National Employment Programme (NEP) workers who are contracted to clean up the community through the Emergency Employment Programme. While in Fond Cole, she met with members of the Building Damage Assessment (BDA) team who are collecting data on damage to homes across the island.
The UNDP team is assisting the government of Dominica in coordinating the crisis recovery efforts, with focus on rebuilding a more resilient country. The organisation has so far deployed waste management and debris removal experts in the capital Roseau and around the island through the NEP programme. UNDP has also conducted training sessions for over 300 builders who are now certified in climate resilient building practices.
Additionally, 130 persons have been assigned with various BDA teams to collect data on island-wide damage to homes. Support to the UNDP activities in Dominica have been facilitated through China Aid with a focus on provision of roofs and building standards, and from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and UKAID for the emergency employment initiative with the NEP.
The organisation has also employed six nationals to form part of its team on island.
Everybody keep talking this nonsense: “resilience” of the Dominican People! People slip and fall they do not stay lying on the grown permanently! Our people have no choice, if they do not try to rebound, what else can they do?
Some people who lost everything, the very old over eighty, and most people in their sixties, unless they have children who can afford to help them with food and shelter, or some person with a good heart decide to help them, the people in such age group will never own anything again.
How resilience is that?
Our people have no choice, if they do not try to rebound, what else can they do? What kind of statement is that? How idiotic!
Yes maam
This is the Dominica we knew until all this ro-ro, fault-finding, mauvais lang and “tarnish Dominica everywhere” paranoia in the guise of public interest of recent years.
Thankfully, genuinely patriotic Dominicans are in the majority.
It looks like the trees and scrubs are getting green again relatively quickly. Hopefully the rain forest will return in about a year.
Sounds great. It would be good to have more information on exactly what the UNDP has done, is now doing, and is planning to do.
Jungle
It would be even greater to have more information on what more Dominicans are doing to help themselves and their communities.