Rescue hampered by broken roads

3:36 p.m., Oct. 2 – KINGSTON, Jamaica – The destruction to a number of roads is hampering the efforts by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to adequately provide assistance to persons following the passage of Tropical Storm Nicole that left at least 13 people dead.“We are looking to having to do flights into the hills of St Andrew and St Thomas because they are having some challenges with re-opening the roads, “said ODPEM Director General, Ronald Jackson.Unofficial reports said that the death toll from the weeklong rains and floods is 13 with eight other people missing and presumed dead.The authorities were today still recovering bodies from the sea and from flooded waterways. Yesterday rescue workers found the bodies of five people.Jackson said that  more shelters would have to be opened as rescue operations intensify this weekend following weather reports that the rains would continue for at least another 24 hours.According to Jackson, the ODPEM is faced with several challenges which include the devastation to the road network hampering the efforts to bring relief to persons.Transport and Works Minister Michael Henry said that it will cost at least J$400 million (US$4.7 million) to clear roadways, following the heavy rains.“So far, it is about $400 million just to clear the roads,” Henry said, adding that the destruction could have a bearing on the multi-billion dollar Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP).“It will reduce, perhaps, the volume of the immediacy of the work, but we can begin to attack that, once the water subsides, because we’re now ready to kick off the (JDIP) programme,” he said.The JDIP is a five-year public works programme, funded by a loan secured from the Export/Import Bank of China, at an interest rate of five per cent.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has indicated that it will likely provide assistance to the island to ensure that there is no major fallout in the current US$1.27-billion Stand-By Arrangement it has with Jamaica.The IMF’s resident representative, Dr Gene Leon told the Observer newspaper that the IMF “is looking at ways to assist in the aftermath of the disaster.”He said the IMF “will discuss the situation with Jamaican authorities to arrive at the best way forward”.Meanwhile, aid donors have so far pledged US$50 000 at a meeting here yesterday.