Close attention must be paid to what is currently taking place in forests across the nation.

The nation-wide relief effort is continuing here as Vincentians  welcome the New Year, with several persons still in shelters, following last week’s devastating flooding and landslides

And as Vincentians continue to pick up the pieces, Prime Minister  Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has said close attention must be paid to what is currently taking place in forests across the nation, where the rivers  have spread.

Dr. Gonsalves was discussing recommendations which came out of a meeting held on Saturday with Financial Institutions, Contractors and other regional representatives to plan the way forward for the recovery effort.

The Prime Minister said there have been several landslides in the forests and this is a cause for concern as rivers spread and take more land.

The Prime Minister Gonsalves said if the logs which are lying in the forests are not cleared quickly, then whenever the rains come again there will be further destruction.  He also noted that close attention must also be paid to river defenses.