Caribbean Emergency Managers Huddled in Belize

The Emergency Disaster Managers of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) and its participating states met in Belize last week to review CDERA´s initiatives over the last year and consider work plans for 2006-2007.

The occasion was the 16th meeting of the Board of Directors of CDERA that was held from April 19 to 21.

The meeting took place at a time when the region is preparing for a hurricane season that is anticipated to be above average.

Directors were extensively updated in enhanced protocols and tools, which were revised based on the lessons identified and learnt from the disaster events of 2004 and 2005.

The Board also received an update on and discussed efforts to improve donors coordination in support of the Regional Strategy for Comprehensive Disaster Management.

A key item on the agenda of the Regional Emergency Managers was disaster preparedness for Cricket World Cup 2007.