The Valley, Nov 28, 2005 - Anguilla’s Finance Minister, Victor Banks today reiterated the need for local authorities to take initial responsibility for disaster preparedness, and response.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a two day Emergency Telecommunications course, at the Police Training Room, Banks said, “local authority does not mean only government, but all of society engaged in the national system of disaster preparedness.”

Banks, who is also the Territory’s Minister of Tourism, said human suffering cannot be quantified, and whatever can be done to prevent or to alleviate it, must be undertaken by the ones who have the possibility to do so, independently of the overall dimension of the event.

Banks noted that individuals obtaining information first hand by observation,  must ensure that “ this information is funneled to the decision makers in a coordinated and efficient way.”

“That is why you are here today, to learn of the way to communicate effectively in times of disaster,” Banks told the 25 participants drawn from emergency response personnel from the disaster management office, fire, police, ambulance, district emergency officers and community leaders..

Mr Banks told the opening ceremony that communication and disaster management are irrevocably associated and one must be constantly trying to do it better.  “Disaster do not always fit in a prescribed position, this means that we must be flexible and our systems must be dynamic,” he said.

In noting the valuable assistance that Anguilla has received  from regional and international agencies to upgrade its emergency communications capabilities, Mr Banks said the introduction of new and enhanced technologies can greatly develop the service of telecommunications and information technology for humanitarian assistance in all sectors from preparedness and prevention to response, and the continuum from relief to development.

“It is my hope that when this training is done we can move to the next level and develop a consolidating mechanism for ensuring that the Anguilla team receives the most relevant and accurate information it needs for making high quality decisions in times of disaster, Banks added.

The workshop is part of the Strengthening of the Urban Search and Rescue Capability Project managed by CDERA, funded by the Government of Japan through the United Nations Trust Fund For Human Security.

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr Wycliffe Richardson
Disaster Preparedness Coordinator
National Disaster Organization
P.O. Box 296,
The Valley
Anguilla
Tel: (264) 497-5666/5667
Fax: (264) 497-2378
Email: axaeoc@anguillanet.com