Guyana to be better prepared for natural disasters

– CDC hosts Tradewinds Disaster Relief Request for Assistance Seminar 

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Guyana’s Civil Defence Commission (CDC) will be producing a booklet to guide Caribbean countries on the procedures and expectations of critical agencies in the event of natural disasters.

At a seminar on Tuesday, CDC Director-General Lt. Col Kester Craig said the agency would be hosting several activities to educate organisations on their roles and responsibilities.

Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, Director General, CDC.

Janine Cocker, Counsellor Development High Commission of Canada.

Representatives from local, regional and international organisations.

Tuesday’s forum formed part of the Tradewinds 2020 Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief exercise scheduled to be held in Guyana from June 10-24 which the CDC has been tasked with coordinating.

DG Craig explained that the Tradewinds exercise serves to strengthen the security of the Caribbean region through humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

“Every time a country within our region is impacted [by a disaster], we find that within hours or minutes, the capacity is overwhelmed because of the magnitude of hazard impact,” Craig said.

Participants at the seminar included representatives from the foreign affairs ministry, the Canadian High Commission, the EU Delegation, UNICEF, PAHO/WHO, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, the US Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).