And his predecessor in Disaster Risk Management, Orlando Habet was also active in responding to fires in the west in his capacity as Minister of Sustainable Development.
He spoke to the press from Antigua and Barbuda today where he has been participating in theSmall Island Developing States Conference.
He gave us an update on the fires in the Mountain Pine Ridge and the Eligio Panti National Park:
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
"The big fires in Mountain Pine Ridge have now been "quelched". There has been participation from, as you know, the Forest Department and the private sector who have businesses up in the Mountain Pine Ridge and the concessionaires who have concession that long term forest concessions up there. A portion of the Pine Ridge was burned. It doesn't mean to say that it has been destroyed from all indications and the assessments that have been made, about 33 to 34% was on fire. But 90% of that at least is good fire where it would be regeneration. The trees were already starting to seed, they will fall on ground that has a lot of ash now."
"And so when the rains come, it is expected that there would be a lot of regeneration. Additionally, the Forest Department is preparing through the restoration program to put them seeds to produce seedlings for restoration activities so as to plant pine trees in those areas that do not take naturally from the regeneration. And also the the concessionaires for the long term forest concessions also are involved in producing seedlings to that nurseries, and they will also be assisting in replanting."
"In the San Antonio area, the information is that the fires are contained. There was assistance. They had to utilize the helicopters from Astrum to put water a few days ago, Fire fighters from the Forest Department, the co-manager of the NGO Panti, and also the villagers from San Antonio, led by the town council, the village council, and also the private sector, the resort guy Blancaneux and and others who are also have been participating."
"So a lot of the fire in that area has now been contained. Most of it."
Reporter
"And are you abreast on the situation in Altun Ha?"
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
"I had communicated with the people from the BTB. Web both informed the fire department at Leadville. They moved in quickly and assisted the community and other people who are assisting to quench the fire."
"I haven't had a report this morning as to what happened here, but my information that they received at about two in the morning that the most of the fire had been out."
