Jamaica: 'Corruption, inequality and natural hazards'

Peta-Anne Baker, coordinator of the Social Work Programme at the University of the West Indies, describes the many issues that the country is facing - including inequality and corruption - in the implementation of measures to reduce the risk of disasters from natural hazards and to better prepare.

In her article, she asserts, "While poverty does influence the extent and nature of the impact of natural hazards on families, communities, and entire nations, the emerging evidence is that there is a greater and more significant effect from inequality - the extent of the gap between the rich and powerful and the poor - within and between nations."