THE first of a series of public stakeholder consultations on the drafting of a National Early Warning System Communication Protocol Document attracted a cross-section of representatives from various institutions and organisations at a session held on Tuesday  at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS)  Sports Club on Carifesta Avenue. Civil Defence Commission (CDC) Director General, Colonel Ret’d. Chabilall Ramsarup, stressed that disaster preparedness is everyone’s business, and whether people like it or not, disasters are here to stay and trends show that they are increasing.
“What is heart-rending is the tremendous damage they leave behind in terms of the lives lost, destruction to livelihoods and the environment, and economic loss,” he said.
He recalled that, in the 1990s, total economic losses exceeded US$629 billion, and comparatively speaking while two million lives were lost in the 1970s, less lives have been lost over more recent years due to better emergency systems adopted by countries, including Early Warning Systems (EWS). The latter  allows persons in potential disaster zones to take the necessary action to avoid or reduce the risks and prepare for effective responses, he said.

The consultation seeks to build, and improve, on established protocols which exist within various agencies and relevant ministries, according to the CDC Director General. He gave an example of just over three years ago, when the Hydromet Office predicted above average rainfall, the Agriculture Ministry through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) issued notices on its decision to let  out water into the Demerara River from the Lama Conservancy in preparation to hold excess water, and the River and Sea Defence Unit of the Public Works Ministry predicted high tides; but there was no real consideration of all of these factors converging with heavy rainfall in interior locations.
“Every single agency did their job, but nobody coordinated. This document will show that the Civil Defence Commission has undertaken the task of doing the coordination, and with the other agencies, come up with the perfect analysis so we can warn those people who are going to be affected in time so they can take whatever action they could to minimise their losses or damage”.

The proposed document, the National Early Warning System, the CDC head noted, will apply nationwide and ensure that the entire population can properly be warned and being so informed, minimise their losses and potential damage.
A power point presentation was given by CDC Operations and Training Officer Kester Craig, in which he outlined the move towards instituting a formal policy that will be crafted and presented to Cabinet for approval and for the necessary funding to coordinate and improve disaster responses.
The CDC, he pointed out, is also in the process of establishing community-based disaster risk management systems which will be geared toward the needs, customs and capacity of specific communities.  The various types of communication to be utilised in emergencies was also discussed, as well as the feedback from an ongoing series of public consultations and awareness sessions in more vulnerable communities. Stakeholders were then invited to ask questions and make suggestions, many of which will be incorporated into the draft document of the EWS.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been playing a key role in enhancing the CDC’s capability and capacity, along with the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) and both organisations were recognised for their roles.
On May 7, the CDC will host another public forum targeting the National Multi Hazard Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan and the Flood Preparedness and Response Plan. On May 23, the Disaster Risk Policy forum will be aimed at informing all agencies and ministries about their roles and tasks during disasters. (GINA)