BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, March 20th 2015 (NEMA) – In an effort to increase the localised Disaster Management capacity within districts, Community Emergency Response Team (CERTs) Volunteers returned to NEMA to refresh their skills last night, Thursday 19th March in collaboration with trainers from the combined security forces. The skills upgrade was planned following an assessment of the compilation of each district team, during a gathering with Districts Coordinator, Mrs. Telca Wallace last month.
In a report to Management, Mrs. Wallace noted that while some districts were well manned, others had deficits, some as low as only two Volunteers in each of several districts.
“As a result of the findings from that meeting”, according to Deputy National Disaster Coordinator (DNDC), Mrs. Claricia Langley-Stevens, “we have taken a decision to recruit membership focusing on those districts that can benefit from increased numbers, while committing to the ongoing training and upgrading of skills of all members.”
According to Langley-Stevens, the training will serve a dual purpose as the Nation prepares to host US SOUTHCOMS Tradewinds 2015, from 31st May to 9th June. Tradewinds is primarily a military exercise but comprises a Disaster Management component, upon which an event that tests the Nation’s emergency response capacity will be based.
“I must commend the teams,” the DNDC said, “as they arrived at NEMA at 4pm, which means they came straight from work, and stayed until the end of the training, which culminated in a field exercise, at around 8pm.
“All the while, there was an awe-inspiring mood of meaningful participation, that was completely heartening and exactly what is expected of a NEMA Volunteer”, she said.
Mrs. Langley-Stevens also expressed joy in welcoming three potential volunteers, who were allowed to join the meeting even though they are yet to be trained. Once trained, the young men will serve in District 2, which is one of the communities that is currently manned by only two volunteers, and is seeking to increase it’s membership.
Vesta I. Southwell
Public Relations Officer
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