Learn from Cuba says New Orleans mayor

[IndianaGreen]

Learn from Cuba says New Orleans mayor

Wednesday 21 October 2009
Tom Mellen

Visiting New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin praised Cuba's disaster response system on Tuesday, acknowledging that the islands's socialist authorities "do a much better job than we do."

Mr Nagin, who arrived in Cuba last Friday along with 15 officials from police, fire and port agencies, has met Cuban civil defence authorities and seen presentations on how the whole island mobilises during disasters.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina flooded 80 per cent of New Orleans, killing more than 1,600 people.

Last year, hurricanes Gustav, Ike and Paloma all pounded Cuba, killing seven.

Mr Nagin acknowledged that "one of the biggest weaknesses we had during Katrina is it wasn't clear who was the top authority.

"Here in Cuba you don't have that problem. The government says: 'This is what we're doing, these are the resources we are going to deploy,' and it pretty much happens."

In Cuba, Revolutionary Defence Committees organise communities at neighbourhood level, providing social services as well as helping with evacuations.

"They do a much better job than we do on knowing their citizens at a very, very detailed level, block by block," Mr Nagin declared.

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/world/Learn-from-Cuba-says-New-Orleans-mayor

[Mika]

1. Thanks for posting this. A gov for the people, by the people.

In Cuba, Revolutionary Defence Committees organise communities at neighbourhood level, providing social services as well as helping with evacuations.

"They do a much better job than we do on knowing their citizens at a very, very detailed level, block by block," Mr Nagin declared.

In Cuba, the directors of the local CDRs are elected and subject to biannual accountability and recall public hearings. If they don't represent the people well, then they are replaced.

[Peace Patriot]

2. "...it wasn't clear who was the top authority." Oh, yeah, it was. nt

[Billy Burnett]

3. Indeed.

Dear leader getting the NOAA Hurricane center warning ...




Dear leader in action ...

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_35igJnloijA/SLvl3HspsII/AAAAAAAADM0/Y8mjVYzNvQA/s400/Bush+McCain+cake+on+katrina.jpg