Bridgetown, Barbados, September 4, 2008 -  The Canadian High Commission in Barbados, in cooperation with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Leslie John Walling as the Coordinator of the Canada Caribbean Disaster Risk Management Fund.

The Fund, valued at $3.0 million Canadian, is designed to support projects that strengthen capacity for disaster risk management and risk reduction in the Caribbean. Specifically, the Fund will support initiatives that address the priorities outlined in the Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Framework for the Caribbean.

Mr. Walling is an environmental resource management professional who brings over fifteen years of experience to his new assignment. Mr. Walling will assume the role of Fund Coordinator on September 1, 2008, and will be based at the offices of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) in Barbados.

Mr. Jeremy Collymore, Coordinator of CDERA expressed his appreciation on the appointment of Mr. Walling and remarked that “the establishment of the Fund is a clear indication of the strong support that CDM is receiving within the region and among partners.” 

Mr Walling indicated that he is “extremely excited by the challenge of working at a practical level to tangibly reduce levels of disaster risk and build capacity.”

Head of CIDA in Barbados, Mrs. Kathryn Dunlop, welcomed the appointment of Mr. Walling and noted that “Canada remains committed to support the Caribbean to achieve the objectives of the Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Strategy.”

For more information please contact:
Mr. Yuri Chakalall
Senior Development Officer
Canadian High Commission
Bridgetown, Barbados
Tel: 1-246-429-3550 ext 3453
yuri.chakalall@international.gc.ca