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Willoughby’s "Disaster" Team |
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Written by Average Joe
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Thursday, 17 April 2008 |
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The devastating fire several weeks ago on Albert Street, the
heart of the old capital, has exposed a number of vulnerabilities for city
residents. These are vulnerabilities that the District Emergency Management
Organisation (DEMO) must tackle. Today we are than two months to go before the
opening of the 2008 hurricane season that is already being heralded as one that
will be rougher than the previous, but there is alarm that the organization
that should prepare us is yet to deal with its own vulnerabilities.
About three weeks ago the head of DEMO, who happens to be
none other than the callow Councillor Philip Willoughby, called the Love FM
morning show to invite volunteers from the city’s population to be a part of a
“disaster management team”. Whether Mr. Willoughby has recruited any capable
person who the City’s over 70,000 residents can depend on during crisis times
is unknown.
Willoughby became the DEMO coordinator without public
consultation or a valid vetting of his experience or qualifications, which is
in itself highly questionable. Upon his appointment his immediate narcissistic
reflexes was to organize a photo-op tour with NEMO Minister Melvin Hulse.
Willoughby lives for these opportunities.
Willoughby has a lot to get in order. According to reports,
he had called a meeting of what should have been the Belize District Disaster
Management team several ago, but when people turned out to hear what the plans
were, there was no Willoughby. The excuse given was that Willoughby had
cancelled the meeting because he had school that day and could not be there.
Last year Willoughby was a constant caller of the airwaves
criticizing the then PUP government for according to Philip Willoughby, not
having adequate hurricane shelters. Fast forward to post elections of 2008. The
UDP, in its incorrigible way, has fired all the experienced NEMO officers from
across the country and hired Willoughby to head Belize District’s emergency
team.
We are two months before the start of the hurricane season.
The City continues to be prone to disaster because of it increasing population
and a spate of crime that seems relentless; Belize City’s low lying level; and
yes… all the old buildings. Still, we are without a plan or even a team to
plan. A City of over 70 thousand people and densely populated is right now
exposed to the elements of instability and despondence with Willoughby and the
UDP at the helm.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 17 April 2008 )
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