BCCI taking serious approach to disaster management
The Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) takes the issue of disaster management very seriously.
Such was the assurance given by Carlos Wharton, Executive Director of the BCCI, as he delivered remarks at a seminar focusing on “Hurricane Preparedness and Building Resilience”, held jointly by the Chamber, the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR). The seminar took place recently at UN House, Marine Gardens, Christ Church.
“Our recent history clearly shows that the impact of disasters in small vulnerable economies, can reverse decades of development gains. Logic and common sense suggest that it would be even worse, if we do not adequately plan for them. As evidenced by recent events in Dominica and Barbuda and other Caribbean islands, the infrastructural, economic and societal costs resulting from these intense events far outstrip the resources available to us, individually or collectively, to rebuild our communities and business environment, within a short period of time,” Wharton commented.
Since March 2017, he acknowledged, the BCCI has sought to make its contribution to national, regional and hemispheric processes that recognise the importance of the private sector, in minimising the negative impact of disasters. The Chamber would have also contributed to relief efforts in Dominica and Barbuda and since joining the BCCI in 2017, Wharton said, the Chamber had already established relationships with institutions that are involved in disaster management at the local, regional and international levels.
“A Statement of Cooperation was already signed, which as I understand, formed the bases for the many public-private initiatives that we have partnered with the DEM on, in recent times. The Chamber was also a designated Business Emergency Operating Centre and was and still remains a member of the National Advisory Council and Sub-Committee on Food and General Supplies,” he further noted.
“This year have adopted the theme of building resilience and have been focused on the following – building awareness of the need to have adequate business continuity plans and other risk reduction measures in place and supporting private-public partnerships that enhance our ability to recover in the days after a disaster has struck. For instance, we have facilitated the negotiation of MOUs between the Ministry of Agriculture and at least three members of the Chamber, to guarantee a certain amount of food and general supplies, in the event of a disaster. (We are also focused on) participating in national and regional initiatives, that complement and support the work carried out by our key strategic partners,” Wharton added.
“(On) this occasion, we will formally signal our intent to deepen our cooperation with our regional and international partners, including through the ARISE initiative, which will be presented here today. This Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies, will complement some of the other work that we are conducting” Wharton told those gathered. (RSM)