APPRECIATION
12.01 It is unusual for a year to pass without the P.W.D. being involved in one sort of crisis or another but 1972 was catastrophic. The rainstorms of June were the most severe ever recorded, as were the associated landslides, damage to property and loss of life. As is usual in these circumstances, all branches of the Department, whether directly involved or not, turned to and gave a helping hand but with widespread damage of this nature the brunt of work once again fell upon the Highways Office and Buildings Ordinance Office—and once again they responded magnificently.
12.02 These offices were manned on a 24-hour basis at the onset of the heavy rains and hence ready and mobilized for emergency work from the moment their services were needed. But the emergency escalated so rapidly that soon the full staff of both offices were deployed on a 24-hour emergency basis. This continued for many weeks to the detriment of the normal routine of the offices and the resulting backlog of work in the Buildings Ordinance Office persisted throughout the year, putting further strain on a short-staffed and overworked office.
12.03 Other offices may not have been beset with problems and strains both mental and physical—as severe as those which descended on the Buildings Ordinance and Highways Offices—but staff shortages have resulted in every office, branch, division and section of the P.W.D. being overworked. This has now persisted for a number of years and as this is my last report as Director of Public Works I wish to record my admiration of the spirit and dedication with which the staff at all levels have tackled their respective duties. I thank them for the support and co-operation they have given me not only as D.P.W. but over the 27 years I have been with the Department.
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