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L-R)Ms Venetta Hobson-Moving Permanent Secretary in the Premiers Ministry, Mr Ray John facilitator , Mr Orville Brandy Manager of the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority and Mr Lester Blackett NDMO Director. |
CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (May 26, 2006) -- A two day workshop to enhance disaster plans on Nevis, concluded Friday at the Red Cross Building and according to a top official in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), the workshop demonstrated the seriousness which the Administration has placed on disaster management.
"The Nevis Island Administration through the NDMO has demonstrated the seriousness of disaster management and the necessity for all to have a plan at individual households, within the workplace or elsewhere," Ms Venetta Hobson-Moving Permanent Secretary in the Premiers Ministry said. She was at the time delivering remarks at the workshop's opening ceremony on Thursday May 25, 2006.
She noted that a post mortem on past workshops which included desktop and simulation exercises, had given a clear indication of what left to be done. "So this two day exercise is taking us a step further into preparing ourselves mentally."
The workshop which is hosted by the NIA through the Nevis Disaster
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A cross section of participants at the Disaster Simulation workshop. |
Management Office (NDMO) is facilitated by Mr Ray John of St Kitts and targets a number of persons in the civil service, private and public sectors and service organisations who are involved in the disaster management programme.
According to Mr Lester Blackett, Director of the NDMO the workshop would take the form of a number of discussions and include table top exercises, a full scale disaster simulation and an evaluation. He said one of the outputs of the exercise would provide important information for the airport disaster simulation exercise which is slated for July.
Meantime, Mr Oral Brandy Manager of the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority who deputised for the Authority's Board Chairman Mr Collin Dore regarded the workshop as being a timely and significant addition which emphasised the need for the preparation of disasters. He said one could not over be prepared to face the challenges which accompanied any disaster, natural or manmade.
"It is because of these challenges that coordinated response efforts have become more important in this modern age of disasters, natural or man made. I would like to say that workshops such as this one, would not only be a time for increasing one's knowledge and skill but it would be a time when you would learn to appreciate the importance of collaboration and teamwork. It is through teamwork that we would be able to mitigate crisis situations and maintain order where there is potential chaos.
"The Vance W Amory International Airport has an emergency plan and I believe that the other agencies have one in place as well. However, as we think especially of the crash simulation exercise to be held later this year, our plans and procedures must be tested and rehearsed as well as evaluated," he said.
Mr Brandy commended the NDMO and the Nevis Island Administration for their efforts in sensitising and preparing the relevant agencies in the event of any disaster that may occur in Nevis.
Mr Ray John in brief remarks told participants that the workshop was the "fun part" of disaster management but it was also a critical component of the disaster programme.