Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter
A PROPOSAL for the establishment of Disaster Preparedness Committees in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom is scheduled to be tabled at the Jamaica's second Diaspora Conference this week.
The proposal, moved by Irwine Clare, a member of the U.S. delegation scheduled to present at the conference, will call for a more proactive role to be played by members of the diaspora.
"The involvement of the diaspora in the preparatory stages would provide additional opportunities for sourcing services, equipment and all the required items needed for disaster preparedness," Mr. Clare told The Gleaner yesterday. "This proactive approach undoubtedly places us at an advantage if and when a disaster strikes."
Mr. Clare's pronouncement comes days after Dr. Barbara Carby, director general at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), said the country would be hard-pressed to recover from a Category Three hurricane without international assistance.
NO PERMANENT COMMITTEES
He added that there are currently no permanent committees and groups assigned with the responsibility of disaster preparedness in the diaspora and, as such, the proposal will give an opportunity for those charged with the responsibility in Jamaica to include the diaspora at that level.
Dr. Carby, while noting that the ODPEM has certain strategies for partnerships, said her office was always happy to partner with organisations or persons that support its mission, vision and values.
"I don't see the diaspora wishing to assist as being a problem," she added.
Meanwhile Delano Franklyn, State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, said Mr. Clare's proposal was "a good suggestion".
"I have asked Mr. Clare to bring a resolution to conference, where we will have it tabled, discussed and passed," Mr. Franklyn said.
