Georgetown: United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) Deputy Resident Representative Chisa Mikami today outlined the need for all to be prepared for any foreseeable disaster so as to lessen the potential impact on their lives.
Ms Mikami was at the time formally addressing the second of a series of public stakeholder consultations on the drafting of a National Multi-Hazard Preparedness and Response Plan. The session, which attracted a cross section of representatives from various institutions and organisations, was conducted at the Sports Club of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, on Carifesta Avenue.
The UNDP official noted that being prepared makes the difference between those affected in continuing with their lives and others succumbing. “We have seen from the 2005 and 2006 floods that disasters can have widespread impact, causing not only harm and damage to lives, buildings and infrastructure, but also impairing economic activities and seriously jeopardising the possibility for future sustainable development of the country”.
Public stakeholder consultation on the National Multi-Hazard Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan
The UNDP Deputy Resident Representative added that given the high costs associated with many disasters, it is critical to set up measures to manage the chances and possible impacts through prevention, mitigation and preparedness. “This should be seen as a milestone on the path to sustainable development and an opportunity for better coordination, dialogue, mutual learning and enhanced synergies”. She noted that disaster risk management is a dynamic process that needs to be constantly updated.
Delivering opening remarks, Civil Defence Commission (CDC) Director General Col Ret’d Chabilall Ramsarup touched on the importance of being prepared for any possible disaster and having the resources, capability and technical knowledge to deal with such occurrences. The plans, he added which are being fine tuned, cannot stand alone, but must be exercised to test their effectiveness and expose any gaps or loopholes that need to be addressed. The current plans address all possible disasters except drought, and this he noted will be addressed shortly by a contracted consultant. The Health and Security sectors are currently updating their specific plans and these revisions will be incorporated into a master plan.
The CDC doesn’t have all the answers, he stated, hence the role of community stakeholders who may possess greater knowledge of issues and challenges, pertinent to their specific communities.
A presentation was made by Deputy Operations and Training Officer Shaun Welcome, in which he outlined the move towards instituting a formal policy that will be crafted and presented to Cabinet for approval and the necessary funding to coordinate and improve disaster responses.
Questions were also taken from stakeholders and interested persons with suggestions for others to submit theirs to the CDC website, via the internet.
The UNDP has been playing a key role in enhancing the CDC’s capability and capacity, along with the Inter American Development Bank and both organisations were recognised for their roles.
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