SYSTEM REVIEW

Changes are likely coming to the Regional Response Mechanism (RRM), which is mobilised in times of disaster.

That’s the word from Ronald Jackson, Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). He made the disclosure during a press conference yesterday morning at CDEMA’s headquarters, located at Lower Estate, St. Michael, as he noted that given the events of the past few weeks with some countries being severely impacted by two strong hurricanes, a review of the system is right now even more timely. The Barbados Advocate understands that CDEMA acts as the Regional Co-ordinating Centre in the RRM framework and collaborates with other agencies including the Regional Security System and the CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit, to assist member states that are affected by natural and man-made disasters.

“Based on reports and lessons learned, we will revise and enhance the Regional Response Mechanism. As I said before, it would have been pushed to its upper limits and so the question is whether or not the system, as it is, is fit for purpose given the new realities we face. And so as a learning organisation, we intend to interrogate the process, the experience and to build in, and to look to see how we can strengthen to be able to cope with future such events,” Jackson stated.

He explained that a review of the RRM was already on the cards, and was expected in fact to take place from September to December, but the CDEMA official noted that process was retarded by the weather systems that affected the region. While it set the process back a bit, he said they now have the events of the last few weeks to feed into the process, and this should help to ensure that any modifications made to the RRM ensure that it is indeed even better formulated to address the region’s needs.

With that in mind, he said that CDEMA will also continue promoting preparedness and mitigation measures, to ensure that the response capacity does not decrease with time. (JRT)