President Charles Savarin has stated that the response and recovery effort was triggered smoothly with timeliness and precision.
Addressing the nation on the occasion of National Days of Mourning declared by the Government in the wake of Tropical Storm Erika, Savarin said the Office of Disaster Managed responded with practiced alacrity to the devastation and has been providing great service to the people and professional advice to the political directorate.
“They are deserving of our high commendation,” he said.
Savarin said he was also informed that the Emergency Operations Centre has been diligent in coordinating the national response and the various National Emergency Planning Organisation (NEPO) sub committees have undertaken their responsibilities with seriousness and determination.
He said the public utility companies deserve a special commendation, as efforts to restore services began even before the rains had stopped.
Further, President Savarin said the nation owes a debt of gratitude to the police and fire service personnel who are the first responders, and to the many volunteer agencies that have quickly responded to this national disaster.
The President added that the overwhelming response of regional governments and the international community to Dominica’s plight is heartwarming. He noted that their positive responses ensure that Dominica will not walk the road of national recovery alone.
Savarin cautioned that the cost of recovering will not be easy as preliminary estimates of damage to public infrastructure run into hundreds of millions of dollars while damage to the tourism plant is in the tens of millions. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit had earlier announced that the Public Works Ministry had given a preliminary assessment of infrastructural damages, providing an estimate of $612.7M.
“While our nation mourns, all our able- bodied men and women have the solemn responsibility to rise up from the ruin and the shattered lives that surround them and face the task of rebuilding with a renewed passion and determination. With God on our side, we will overcome and we will rebuild Dominica stronger and better,” Savarin said.
Tomorrow is also being observed as a National Day of Mourning for the lives lost as a result of the tragedy. Saturday and Sunday have been declared National Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving.
Stupes. Lacks legitimacy and credibility
Why are some of the people lost their home be put up at the state house 2 people residing in a palace while hundreds of our natives are homeless Is that Love Jesus Christ would not do this The gentle man is a Christian. Sir practise your faith. See Christ in your fellow Dominicans. Your reward is not in this world You have a Judge to face. What are you going to say to your Lord ab Saviour. Come on Mr Savarin Be ChristLike.
what really is the use of a president in small nation state like Dominica
No salary for one month Mr President that’s $30 000 towards relief supplies..
what is 10% of 30,0000 dollars? put it another way, one thousand Dollars a day is the salary of the President Charles savarin how much help can that do for the homeless in Dominica
Surprisingly our President did not call for uunity and love for all during this time of disaster.We need this Sir even more now.
That my friend is a clear direct commendable and respectable message given by a statesman that understand that it takes all hands to get the job done. Thumbs up!