Jeremy Collymore (left), coordinator of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency, in discussion with Hugh Philpott of the United Kingdom at Tuesday's opening of a two-review meeting of disaster issues in Kingston. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
ENVIRONMENTAL AND emergency response professionals throughout the Caribbean ended a two-day conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, yesterday, which examined preparedness and response to natural hazards and disasters.
The conference, themed 'Beyond 2004 Events Lessons for the Caribbean Region', was jointly organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Caribbean Disaster Response Agency (CDRA). The 150 participants from 25 countries reviewed the lessons learned from last year's active hurricane season.
Last year the effects of four hurricanes resulted in excess of US$5 billion in damage to seven states stretching from Grenada to the Cayman Island and north to the Bahamas.
During his keynote address at the opening ceremony, Minister of Land and Environment, Dean Peart, pointed out that following Hurricane Ivan last September, Jamaica became aware of some of the weaknesses of its response and rehabilitation systems.
With that in mind, the minister said, "We must examine the lessons learnt, not just with the perspective of defining the correct measures and enhancing the best practices, but also in full recognition of the implications of our development as a group of nations."
He noted that developing countries tend to fare worse than other countries as a result of natural disasters. "However, in order to avoid the impact, we must endeavour to put in place better infrastructures," he said.
Apart from the damage to infrastructure and the interruption of basic services, Minister Peart said the social effects, which were enormous, were sometimes overlooked. "Lives are lost, housing, personal effects and family assets are destroyed and often never fully recovered," he noted.
The findings of the workshop will be shared with international donor agencies, disaster response agencies of regional governments and also non-government organisations. The outcomes of the conference, including assessments will be incorporated into a publication that will identify best practices and lessons learned from the disasters in the Caribbean in 2004.
