‘COMPLETE YOUR AUDITS’

Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Ronald Jackson, is calling on Member States to complete their Preparedness Audits.

Yesterday, addressing CDEMA’s Annual Press Conference on the forecast and the region’s preparations for the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season, he expressed concern that so far this year only five of the 18 Member States have done so already.

“We are encouraging those Member States who have not yet done so, that they do so quickly because it allows us to be able to look at the on-hand capabilities of the States and helps us to be able to look at the predictable support that could come based on their gaps,” he explained.

“So essentially, it is important that our States, having called for these tools, utilise them effectively because it’s a standard-based tool and it’s going to be very important, not only looking at the season’s readiness but also helping them to define areas of investment towards strengthening… So, I am very concerned and we continue to liaise with them. I am liaising at the level of the governments – recently we advised several of the ministers with responsibility for Disaster Management but also Security at a meeting that this is outstanding and encouraged them to ensure that it is being done. And we have also been talking at the technical level to ensure that it is being done… We continue to encourage Member States to complete this audit and hopefully in the next week or so, we would move from five to all 18 completed.”

Recalling the devastation caused last year when Hurricanes Irma and Maria battered the Caribbean in just a week, Jackson said that as CDEMA looks forward to the state of readiness for this season which got under way yesterday, the Agency is cognisant that several of the countries are currently undergoing recovery and reconstruction efforts.

“We note that recovery continues and in light of that there are several individuals who are going to be exposed to the ravages of the upcoming hurricane season and we trust that many of these States which were impacted significantly are not in line for any further impact. But, we have to plan; we have prepared with the knowledge that they could potentially be affected.”

The CDEMA Executive Director also shared the regional preparation activities undertaken by the CDEMA Co-ordinating Unit with Participating States, highlighting that CDEMA would have already trained a batch of 33 individuals for the CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU).

“We had 11 participating member states from CDEMA supporting this activity – CDRU is made up of military, police and fire personnel. We trained these individuals in relief management, emergency communications and restoration of critical lifeline facilities.

“In looking at planned operations going forward for 2018, as we move towards the peak season, there are a number of activities that are still required. With the greatest of intention coming out 2017, there is always the expectation that we can improve in all the areas. But, sometimes our expectations have to be tempered by some level of realism in terms of the time frame that is required and the resource allocation which is required to be able to make all the changes that you would have identified. So, some of the activities will continue through the season.

“CDEMA focuses on 365 days a year level of preparedness and we focus on multiple hazards. The hurricane season and tropical storms are not just the focus of the Agency or the national disaster offices across the region,” Jackson added.