Source: http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/

Providenciales,Turks and Caicos Islands Jan 23, 2008 (Caribbean Net News) - Over the next four days, the Turks and Caicos Islands Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies, in collaboration with the Caribbean Risk Management Initiative and the United Nations Programme, will be hosting a Regional Technical Workshop in "Risk Mapping and Planning in Coastal Zones".

Like other countries in the region and elsewhere, the Turks and Caicos Islands are susceptible to natural hazards, though mainly from the threat of seasonal hurricanes, passing tropical storms and their effects, and flooding -- primarily from heavy rain. These threats and vulnerabilities affect seriously on low-lying countries such as the TCI, along with climate change, the rate of development; these too create an increasing risk.

The TCI coastal zones are the economic lifeblood of the Islands and with tourism and tourism related development representing almost 50% of the GDP, it is an extremely important area.

Minister for Home Affairs and Public Safety,Galmo Williams

The Department of Disaster Management, the responsibility of both the Governor's Office and the Ministry of Public Affairs, sees this workshop as both timely and a need, allowing those participating to not only go away with only knowledge of the TCI case, but also assess how they too can be adequately prepared. Moreover, this workshop is also important for developers, physical planners, and land users - who see the TCI as a place for potential development.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) has recognised the vulnerable position the country is in, and holds the view that if unnecessary disruption and destruction affects the sustainable development of TCI are to be avoided; then greater effort are to be provided to ensure the protection of the our citizens and our assets, whether they be social or economic.

Taking place in Providenciales, an opening ceremony brought the start to the workshop, which drew delegates from 11 Caribbean nations, including Mexico and Suriname.

Karen Bernard, Manager and Coordinator of the Caribbean Risk Management Initiative Programme for UNDP, explained the why and how the workshop came about. She stated that the programme, managed out of the UNDP Cuba and UNDP Barbados/OECS offices, is geared to build capacities across the Caribbean region for the management of climate related risks and disasters, among the various activities are a series of technical training workshops, such as this.

The UNDP is on the ground in 166 countries around the world, and the TCI not having a regional constituency. Owing to this fact, there was a cause for concern as to how this workshop would come to fruition. Nevertheless, because of the commitment and dedication of colleagues in the TCI, and the support of UNDP Jamaica - what the TCI envisioned, came to being.

"So it was important that we all come to the Turks and Caicos; to learn about it, to visit it - most of us for the first time, and to exchange with our colleagues from the TCI," said Bernard. "This was the vision that the UNDP Jamaica had, and put forward to UNDP Cuba."

She said she was worried about the different risks and hazards that we face in the region, "For some of us it's hurricanes, for others it's floods; drought, followed by floods; tsunamis; there are multiple risks."

"But when I see the amount of talent that I see in this room, this gives me a certain level of confidence, that we are finding a way to face up to those risks," beamed the proud coordinator.

Jean Harrod, First Secretary, at the Governor's Office, said that each country represented has its unique set of challenges on their own islands. Moreover, "It is very fitting that you are all here today, and we can workshop these ideas and exchange ideas and experiences; and help identify the risks to coastal zone maps management and help map these out and put a strategy in place to address these problems so that we can protect, preserve and develop and in some cases restore the environmental resources that we have, for future generations."

Minister for Home Affairs and Public Safety, Galmo Williams, thanked the Caribbean Risk Management Initiative for hosting the workshop in the Turks and Caicos, and see it as a special honour in hosting it.

"My government is very conscious of the impact of natural hazard and climate changes on the coastal zones, and by extension, the tourism section; and of course the economy."

He made mention of the Flooding Mapping Exercise that was recently completed for four most inhabited islands; namely Grand Turk, South Caicos, North Caicos and Providenciales; and that the department is looking to implement it very shortly.

"Therefore, this workshop is special and very valuable to us; because owing to that exercise, it helped brought to the light many things to our attention."

The Minister  stated that he anticipates that the workshop "Identify an initiative to help address the challenges facing developing countries, planning of our coastal zones, that it will reduce the risk."

To this end, pre-emptive risk reduction must be embraced and with this in mind - all participants were urged to make full use of the resources available and thus be able to say at the end of these sessions to say that it was a rewarding and meaningful experience.