CDC building disaster risk management capacity in Region Nine

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) continues to work towards achieving its mandate of promoting comprehensive disaster management across Guyana, while at the same time making people and the nation more resilient to the impacts of adverse events/disasters.

RRMC Training Implementation Team and Region 9 Stakeholders

This has hastened since unfolding of the January 2005 flood which resulted in economic losses equivalent to 60% of Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The importance of Disaster Risk Management was again highlighted by subsequent floods in 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

 

During the period November 3-14, 2013, representatives from the CDC and UNDP were engaged in data gathering and geographic information system (GIS) activities within Region 9. These activities were all geared towards the implementation of the Cuban Model Risk Reduction Management Centre (RRMC) in Lethem, under the UNDP/ Caribbean Risk Management Initiative. This RRMC project is a pilot project aimed at providing the CDC and the regional administrators with the appropriate technologies and techniques to better monitor hazard impact in the region. In a bid to guarantee the RRMC success, early warning points were set up to monitor flood activities at Massara Village (North Rupununi); Mickey’s Landing (South Pakaraimas); Sand Creek (South Central Rupununi); St. Ignatius, Lethem and Tabatinga (Central Rupununi).

RRMC Training Implementation Team at work in the fields in Massara Village

 

During this period, a stakeholder workshop was held for the senior personnel from the Regional Democratic Council, the Guyana Defence Force and Guyana Police Force within the region to update them on the process and purpose of the RRMC project. Apart from this, a two and a half days Risk Reduction management Centre Spatial Data Base and Geographic Information System workshop was conducted for representatives from the various communities (Massara, Mickey’s Landing, Sand Creek and Lethem) selected as early warning points

Director General CDC, Col (retired) Chabilall Ramsarup handing over the keys to the newly constructed washroom facility at Culvert City Nursery School to the Regional Education Officer (acting)

 

 

The CDC through funding from Caricom/Brazil/FAO Cooperation on Disaster Risk Reduction Initiative implemented by the Caribbean Disaster Management Agency (CDEMA) increased the restroom facility at the Culvert City Nursery School. Additional toilets, bathrooms and sinks were constructed in the school compound increasing the carrying and coping capacities of the said facility at the school. This newly constructed restroom facility was handed over to the Regional Education Officer Region 9, by the Director General CDC, Colonel (retired) Chabilall Ramsarup in the presence of the Regional Vice Chairman, Region 9 on November 14, 2013.

GIS Consultant Mr. Oronde Drakes making a presentation to the RRMC stakeholders and participants

 

The Culvert City Nursery School is identified as one of the emergency shelters in Region 9. Similar work was done at the Arapaima Primary School in Lethem through a previous grant from the same Caricom/Brazil/FAO Cooperation on Disaster Risk Reduction Initiative. (CDC)