NWS in need of more manpower

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Monday July 15th, 2013

 THE National Weather Service is grossly understaffed despite the important role it plays, acting director Jimmy Gomoga says.

Gomoga said on Saturday the service played a vital role through weather watching and forecasting, climate change and shipping and aviation industries but did not have the necessary manpower.

Gomoga said the service had over 90 workers in 14 establishments around the country.

“We have technical staff of about 67, and ancillary staff of about 30,” he said. “This is right across the country. This number is not sufficient.”

Because of this, Gomoga has not taken leave in five years and is being a jack-of-all-trades.

He is concerned that if he goes on leave, no one would monitor the systems necessary for weather watching and forecasting.

Gomoga said he was disappointed that certain organisations were trying to take over weather services at airports around the country.

“When it comes to the aviation industry, all the set-ups at airports around the country belong to the National Weather Service. 

“We are the organisation that sustains the system but the government wants other bodies to run the system,” he said.