A South African Cabinet minister has criticised the administration of United States President George Bush, saying its response to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina was too slow.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation reported on Saturday that Essop Pahad, Minister in the Presidency, told black managers on Friday night that the Bush administration ”failed in its leadership to help avert the devastating impact of the hurricane”.
The national broadcaster said Pahad ”rebuked Washington for pursuing what he terms a discredited neo-conservative ideology”.
”Despite the danger of a hurricane hitting low-lying New Orleans … conservatives slashed federal funding for preventive flood control and lifted a ban on developers destroying the wetlands protecting the city.”
Pahad also criticised Washington for downsizing and privatising the Federal Disaster Management Agency. — Sapa