Chairman of the Nevis Disaster Management Committee, the Hon Vance Amory says that everyone must be aware of what actions should be taken in the event of a disaster. He was at the time delivering the feature address to mark the official opening of the Nevis Disaster Management Office’s (NDMO) Week of Activities on Monday at the Red Cross Building in Charlestown.
Premier Amory said, “It is important for us to ensure that every single individual in our communities have a better understanding of what it means to be aware of disasters but also, we talk even as a child in some rudimentary way, how he or she could response to minimize treats of a disaster.”
He observed the idea that the person responsible for managing a household must have a plan for that household and that the plan must be communicated in whatever way to every single member of the household, “so he or she or all the persons in that household knows what action is to be taken in case of a disaster.”
The 2005 week of activities runs from October 1 to 8 under the theme, “Plan Now! Don’t Wait! Disasters Don’t Discriminate!” and will see several other activities taking place.
National Disaster Coordinator, Mr. Carl Herbert while delivering brief remarks on behalf of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said that he viewed the week of activities as an opportunity for all to be reminded that disaster management was everybody’s business, adding, “Disaster management is not hurricane preparedness and hurricane response.”
He congratulated the management office and its staff for a job will done for organizing the week of activities. “I see this week as a revival of disaster management activities on Nevis; this week will provide an opportunity for all of us to stop, look and reflect on what disaster management is all about,” commented Herbert.
“I anticipate and expect that the exhibition and some of the other activities during the week will bring to the fore, new information which some people were not fully aware of.”
Director of the NDMO, Mr. Lester Blackett gave an overview of the week of activities as well as the format of the first edition of the newsletter, while Mrs. Venetta Hobson-Moving, Permanent Secretary, Premier’s Ministry gave the welcome remarks. The ceremony was chaired by Mr. Allister Thompson, NDMO.
While the week is expected to end with a community clean up day, a panel discussion is planned for Thursday, an exhibition for Friday and the launch of an essay competition and presentations at all schools during assembly on Wednesday.
