Remarks of CDERA Coordinator at the opening of the
16th Meeting of CDERA Council
Hilton Hotel, Barbados
June 22, 2007

Salutations:

This 16th Meeting of the CDERA Council presents an opportunity for Participating States to re-affirm their commitment to the principles of hazard sensitive development,  rationalized programming, effective resource utilization and the development of strong national capacity for disaster risk reduction.

These values and principles are an intrinsic part of the Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Strategy adopted with the support of Council in 2002 and the approval of the Coordinating Unit Strategic Plan in 2004.

After five (5) years of the Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Strategy the opportunity has been taken, with the support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), to review the progress made in advancing its implementation.

The review notes that progress has been made on many fronts and include direct buy-in by partners and regional institutions, efforts to harmonize stakeholder interventions, emerging stronger national disaster offices and enhanced capacity for disaster related teaching and research.

At the same time it noted the high variability in national capacity and called for more dedicated resources to address this.

Recent disaster events have awakened a necessary dialogue about the effectiveness of our response systems at the regional and national level.  More importantly it has galvanized deep reflection and action geared towards enhancing capacity.

Our ongoing dialogue with the international community on the re-articulation of the Eastern Caribbean Donor Group (ECDG) protocol, the platforms for anchoring the regional and international response systems and the strengthening of damage and needs assessment to inform rapid recovery financing are indicators of recognition of the need for continued assessment and improvement.  Our efforts to provide Participating States with a better platform to engage in the UN dialogue on humanitarian reform must also be seen as part of this exercise.

To this end we note the efforts of the regional governments with the support of the Multi-lateral Financial Institutions (MFI), to establish a facility for access to early recovery financing resources.  We hope that our Participating States are not lulled into a false sense of satisfaction that this investment absorbs them from a deeper and sustained commitment to reducing the sources of that exposure generated largely through insensitive development policies and practices.

This initial step must be buttressed by a deeper budget risk sensitization exercise that anticipates impact scenarios, the implications for financed progammes and strategic options for their re-articulation, if required.

The instruments and tools for this exercise have already been developed by the CDB/IDB and now need to become an integral part of the national financial planning process.

I see such an exercise to be essential part of the suite of policies and tools required of a “caring government” agenda.

“Caring government” policies and programmes must also directly address the issue of safe critical facilities, such as schools and hospitals. Public and private sector partnerships in support of resilient development and rapid economic recovery must be an integral part of this pro-active risk reduction agenda. Our built environment must reflect our commitment to the goal of resilient and sustainable development.

There is no doubt that many CDERA Participating States have been increasing investment in disaster management.  All countries now have enhanced National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) facilities, increased staffing, emerging national warehouses and supporting disaster legislation.  Indeed we are pleased to note that fifteen (15) years ago when CDERA was established there were only four (4) full-time National Disaster Coordinators (NDC).  Now each CDERA Participating State has a full time National Disaster Coordinators (NDC) and an average of 7 staff members.

These kinds of investments are necessary but not sufficient for changing the risk profile of our communities.  In too many instances the disaster management programme is tangential to the business of government.  What is now required is for disaster management to be an integral part of government management structure and process.

We believe that the revised Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) framework, informed by lessons identified and learnt, provides a platform for the orchestration of the risk development policy and practice necessary to transform the region from vulnerable communities to resilient ones.

It is in this context that we welcome the establishment of the Disaster Risk Reduction Centre (DRRC) at the UWI and urge the acceleration of its programming presence.

Similarly, the initiation of the Regional Disaster Risk Management for Sustainable Tourism in the Caribbean Project, supported by the IDB, the re-engagement of the Government of Japan in flood management, the development of the pioneering of the Community Early Flood Warning instrument by UWI, the CDB’s decision to establish a position of Sector Specialist for Risk Reduction, the establishment of sector stakeholders consultations in education, health, agriculture and ICT in disaster management as critical elements of the drive to institutionalization.

The decisions required of this Council may not be many, but they represent significant pillars on which our disaster management systems will be anchored.

Let us not be wary of the challenge, great though it may be.  Rather, let us be emboldened by our vision for sustainable development strengthened by our own resolve that the social and economic disruption we experience far too frequently, needs not be.

Jeremy Collymore, Coordinator
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency
Building #1, Manor Lodge, Lodge Hill
Saint Michael, Barbados
Tel No: 246 425-0386 Fax No: 246 425 8854
Email: cdera@caribsurf.com  URL: www.cdera.org