$25M needed to repair damage in Tobago caused by Tomas

Officials in Tobago estimate that it would take about $25 million to repair the damage to the island done by Tomas.

The storm hit the island Sunday before moving north to affect several other island. It has grown into a hurricane and continues to move north.

The Secretary of Infrastructure at the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) told reporters the $25 million is an preliminary estimate and that figure could be higher. Godwin Adams said the assessment so far has been in the eastern end of Tobago

“We also had damage to areas to the northern and south western areas that was not a huge set of damage. However, it will have to be quantified and we will give subsequent costing,” Adams said at media conference in Scarborough.

Assistant Secretary for Health and Social Services, Huey Cadette, said his division continues to talk with people in affected areas and offer help.

“We have to date distributed over 82 hampers, along with 30 mattresses. Of course we continue to distribute hampers and other immediate relief based on new reports that are coming in,” Cadette said.

THA Chief Secretary Orville London urged people to report all concerns and relevant information should be reported to the island's emergency management authority, which he said has the capacity to evaluate the information and pass the information the divisions and agencies that are equipped to take appropriate action.

“It was essential that all agencies, even those under the Central Government, should collaborate with the Office of the Chief Secretary in the process of providing assistance to the affected individuals and communities.

"If this were not done, there could be duplication of effort, inefficient utilisation of the available resources and the fuelling of a perception that agencies are competing against each other rather than co-ordinating activities and programmes during this critical period,” London said.