Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath has criticised the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), among other state agencies, for their responsiveness in the face of disasters.

But ODPM CEO Ret'd Maj Gen Rodney Smart believes Padarath was misguided on the role of the organisation when he criticised it.

Speaking at the TT Meteorological Service's (TTMS) National Climate Outlook Forum at the TT Civil Aviation Authority's Piarco headquarters on May 21, Padarath said, 'Over the years I have not been satisfied, nor have I been happy, with the response of some of these critical stakeholders and one of those has been the ODPM.'

With Smart sitting metres away at the head table, Padarath accused agency officials of 'sitting in ivory towers' while the public struggles to come to terms with the consequences of whatever the disaster may be.

'There must be a greater degree of responsiveness. I know the reality on the ground. I know what the response has been from organisations, and I will not apologise for saying ODPM has to become more responsive and understand what the challenges are when we have significant rainfall.'

He said, as the MP of a constituency with large swathes of rural areas, he has witnessed, first-hand, how lethargic state agencies can be in their response to floods and other natural disasters.

'I recall stakeholders coming to Princes Town and providing platitudes at a time when you needed a greater degree of responsiveness. And that is what citizens of TT expect, responsiveness.

'While I understand there will be limitations form time to time there is a certain degree of responsiveness that is needed in terms of immediacy and how you treat with these matters.'

Padarath said citizens believe there is a disconnect between them and state agencies and added this must be addressed.

He said there must be a paradigm shift so those who are most affected feel as though their needs are being met.

'For far too long we have had government and ambits of the state that are sitting in air-conditioned comfort, not understanding what the reality on the ground is. The electorate requires us to have a greater degree of connectivity with communities and constituencies and ultimately with the entire country.'

He accused the ODPM and the other state agencies of lacking the will power to get things done.

'I can say safely that I am not comfortable with the responsiveness and the work. One may say it is funding, the other I will say it is the will. I have been very hands on as MP and now as Minister to understand the challenges, and funding is just part of the problem. The other part has to do with the will and urgency to treat with some of these matters.'

Padarath warned state agencies he will be monitoring their operations at every level and said he is willing to get his hands dirty.

'Two weeks from now we will kick off the hurricane season and I want to warn you that one of the hurricanes you could expect, his name is Barry. We are yet to see the impact in terms of how significant he