The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is in the process of re-strategising, so that it can be more effective in its operation, Director General Chabilall Ramsarup said. During the year, the CDC continued to strengthen national capacity, by networking with a number of other government agencies, such as the Ministry of Social Protection, to ensure disaster plans

and policies are updated. Colonel (retired) Ramsarup in a recent interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) indicated that his organisation is in the process of boosting its institutional capacity. “We are looking at re-organising…we are getting the support from the new government and we’re hoping that by year-end, we will see some strengthening of the CDC…in the meantime, we are promoting the Volunteer Corps in the CDC,” Ramsarup indicated.
He added that the Region 6 Volunteer Group has significantly supported the works done over the year, in the Amerindian Satellite Villages of Siparuta and Orealla. Ramsarup was high in his praise for the tremendous assistance that the main body has been receiving from the volunteer component, adding that he hopes to establish the group in all the other regions. Already there are active volunteer groups in Regions 4, 6, and 9. “I was surprised, when I went to Lethem, there were some volunteers who did a lot of work in bringing the communities together, and trying to solve some problems,” Ramsarup explained.
The Director General explained that the CDC and disaster is not a one-agency issue, and that this has been evident via the support that has been forthcoming from a number of other government agencies, which all play pivotal roles, during times of national disaster. Recently, President David Granger, in delivering a “Total National Defence Policy,” to enlisted ranks of the Guyana Defence Force, indicated that a Civil Defence Corps will be established to support the work of the CDC, to boost capacity to respond to and manage disasters.