The Mayor of Port Maria, Fitzroy Wilson, may be preoccupied with the usual round of drain cleaning ahead of the hurricane season. Yet, for him, the real priority is human safety in the event of a natural disaster.

Questioned about the recent drain-cleaning activities in Port Maria, Wilson pointed to the broader picture, emphasising that the human element takes precedence over road cleaning.

“You know, it’s not all about drain cleaning; it is about looking after our street people and to make sure we have a tab on them, that, in case of anything, we can take them to safety. It’s about checking the shelters to see — even after Hurricane Melissa — which ones we’re going to use again as shelter; the shelter managers, to see who are really willing to continue to serve as shelter managers. Remember, it’s a volunteering thing for them,” Wilson said.