Greens call for Katrina inquiry

The Green Party has this week called for a full independent inquiry into the response to Hurricane Katrina and its devastating aftermath in New Orleans, and claimed that ‘warning bells are ringing’ in UK coastal towns over a similar catastrophe occurring.

The party is urging the UK Government to immediately address its flood and coastal defence strategies before the situation can occur.

"An inquiry is needed for many reasons, but primarily it should answer the questions of angry citizens who have a right to know why they were left for so long without assistance or resources,” said Green Party Principal Speaker Keith Taylor.

"In the tragic light of seeing the world's only superpower so blatantly fail to anticipate, plan and cope with these events, it's valid to ask; would the UK have done any better? With near total scientific consensus that global warming is leading to climate change now and that more extreme weather events will happen, warning bells are rightly ringing in UK coastal towns and those close to rivers."

"Emergency planning at Whitehall and in town halls across the country needs to be reviewed and reassessed in the light of an increasing likelihood of freak weather. There is no excuse for the government to be caught napping by the next storm or flood," he added.

The Green’s call for a full enquiry comes after several senior US politicians demanded an investigation.