THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has recently concluded a two-day workshop on Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Management and 18 Reserve Officers from the Second Infantry Battalion were trained and certified by the CDC to function as Emergency Operations Centre Managers.

According to a CDC release, the workshop was held on June 29 and 30 and was attended by officers from the rank of Second Lieutenant to that of Lieutenant Colonel.
This course, the release noted, serves as a good indicator of the prevailing relationship between the CDC and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
“The GDF plays an integral role in assisting the Commission in achieving its mandate. Whenever there is an emergency/disaster, the GDF is
oftentimes called upon to provide shelter managers, assistant operations officers and other personnel needed to staff the Emergency Operations Centre,” it stated.
It further explained that the Reserve Battalion of the GDF is tasked with supporting the force in achieving its mission and, with the training of these Reserve Officers, the Force is now equipped with requisite trained personnel to manage the Emergency Operations Centre during emergencies/disasters.
The EOC Management workshop was facilitated by Major Kester R. Craig and Captain Sean F. Welcome.
Discussion forums and a functional simulation exercise were used to test the participants’ assimilation and understanding of the course content.
Topics covered during the workshop included an introduction and overview, role of the EOC in disaster management, designing, managing and operating the EOC, the EOC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the psychological and social climate of the EOC and media relations and briefings within the EOC.
According to the release, the workshop was held as an initiative to extend the mandate of the CDC in delivering Disaster Risk Management (DRM) training across Guyana.
“The CDC recognizes and understands the importance of inter-agency collaboration and support in the successful management and coordination of disaster relief and response operations,” it stated.
As such, the Commission has embarked on a journey to ensure that all stakeholder agencies possess the requisite knowledge and understanding of the tenets of DRM, the release added.