Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/3931/-1/140/
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WORKSHOP MAY HELP DISASTER MANAGEMENT Reid Sounds Note Of Concern
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Anguilla is the third of a number of regional islands included in a Macro Economic Damages Assessment Training Workshop aimed at preparing key persons to effectively handle any given situation in the aftermath of a hurricane. A chilling thought is that, according to Acting Governor Stanley Reid, given the tremendous level of infrastructural development taking place on the island, it is unlikely that the responses to hurricanes Luis and Lenny in 1995 and 1999 will be adequate in Anguilla today.
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L-R: Aiden Harrigan, Elizabeth Klute, Ag Gov. Reid and Keith Nicholls
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Mr. Reid was at the time addressing the opening ceremony of a high-powered four-day workshop at Paradise Cove Resort on Tuesday, September 12. It was organised to examine a methodology crafted by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to assess and report on damage caused by hurricanes.
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Section of participants with Adviser, Roger Bellers (at right)
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“We are happy that you are willing to share your expertise and experience with us and I am sure that Anguilla, following these training sessions, will be able to respond more than adequately in the aftermath of any disaster,” Reid told the visiting facilitators. “We have had to contend with hurricanes Luis and Lenny. Anguillians, in their usual resilient manner, on each occasion, stepped up to the plate and with limited exposure, grappled admirably with the various issues you will discuss over the next few days.
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Participants in the workshop at Paradise Cove Resort
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“Those involved in the recovery efforts after hurricanes Luis and Lenny had it brought home to them how significant it is for them to comfortably assess the damage done to one’s country and the needs resulting from that damage. An accurate damage and needs assessment is vital if resources are to be sourced and allocated efficiently and effectively.”
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Participants in the workshop at Paradise Cove Resort
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The Acting Governor went on: “We will all readily acknowledge that Anguilla has undergone and continues to undergo significant changes economically and socially since hurricane Lenny in 1999. These changes are primarily the result of the rapid infrastructural development currently being undertaken on the island. These developments have posed and continue to pose many challenges for public officials. The Department of Disaster Management is no exception. The responses in 1995 and 1999 are unlikely to be adequate in Anguilla today. It is therefore timely that we are engaging in training in an established methodology to assess the damage done to and the needs of Anguilla in the aftermath of a disaster.”
He added that the Department of Disaster Management, headed by Elizabeth Klute, was “cognisant that limiting the damage likely to be suffered as a result of a disaster is vital to ensuring that Anguilla’s economic climate is not unduly damaged.”
The next speaker was Keith Nichols, representative of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and Coordinator of the ECLAC-SIDS training mission. He told the workshop participants that they were not only being trained to undertake post hurricane disaster assessments, but to build a capacity of potential trainers in the region.
“It is only if you are able to attend all the sessions, and participate in the final case study, can you be eligible to be considered…to continue this training process,” he emphasised. He noted that it was now in the height of the hurricane season and that the workshop was therefore timely.
Other speakers were Elizabeth Klute, Director of Disaster Management/Consultant, who gave the welcome remarks and Dr. Aidan Harrigan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Development and one of the OECS trainers for the time being.
The workshop agenda over the four days included the following: On Tuesday, The concept of vulnerability and Profile of the Caribbean and is vulnerability, facilitated by Keith Nichols; OECS Benchmarking vulnerability, An introduction to the ECLAC Methodology and Key concepts and definitions, by Peter Murray followed by an exercise; Applying the Methodology by David Popo; Housing by Dr. Harrigan; and Health and Education, facilitated by Ezra Jn Baptiste.
Wednesday, Economic sectors:Agriculture, with George Alcee as facilitator; Fisheries, by Peter Murray; Infrastructure and Tourism, facilitated by Rodinald Soomer; Commercial manufacturing, Dr. Harrigan; and Environment & Culture by Peter Murray.
Thursday, Case Study briefing by Mr Soomer: Putting it all together – overall effects of damage/macro-economic impact, facilitated by Dr. Sylvia Charles and Dr. Harrigan; and the Effects and implications on small economies.
The closing session for Friday included a continuation of the case study, group presentations, evaluation and recommendations.