By Chantalé Fletcher
SHELTERS and parking facilities have been opened across the country.
This was revealed by Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Faris Al-Rawi at a virtual press conference on Sunday.
Shelters are under the purview of regional corporations and the park facilities include San Fernando
Parkade and Brian Lara Cricket Academy Car Parks, Tarouba.
A release by UDECOTT stated, “These free parking arrangements at these two facilities extend from 3pm today, Sunday, until Midnight Monday, so as to give additional time for any water runoff should it become necessary.”
Al-Rawi said there facilities were being made available for people who live in low lying areas susceptible to flooding.
However, he said that there will be no shuttle services to drop back drivers after parking their vehicles.
Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan said that the Caribbean Airlines has put on additional flights to get people who wanted to leave Tobago.
Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales commended a number of entities for quick implementation of emergency measures for both islands to deal with the impacts of Hurricane Beryl.
He made the announcement during the same press conference on Sunday.
Gonzales said the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) had already set up an area command in Scarborough of the system.
He added that a mobile generator was set up at Shaw Park along with the commission’s emergency vehicles to help emergency crews respond to any disruptions effectively.
Additionally, Gonzales said rations have been organised to ensure all crew were taken care of. provided for responders.
He added the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has mobilised a number of equipment to focus on the windward part of Tobago and the northern part of Trinidad, in the event that WASA’s infrastructure was impacted.
Gonzales said chemicals were stocked up to provide for least five days supply to some of the water treatment facilities.
Additionally, bonded contractors were mobilised and were ready to be deployed to lend assistance to WASA’s emergency crews.
He said the Operational Command Centre (OCC) has been fully operationalized although it has not been formally commissioned to ensure 24 hour monitoring of all WASA’s infrastructure.
“WASA operators have been monitoring our emergency shelters to ensure we have a sufficient supply of water, in the event that citizens have to report to these emergency centres to protect themselves and families,” he added.
Gonzales stated the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) has been working with Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) to ensure contractors were mobilised to respond to disruptions both in Trinidad and Tobago.
