The Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has been guaranteed support for their hurricane risk reduction programme from the United States Government. At a recent signing Ceremony at the OECS Secretariat in Castries, to formally launch the partnership programme, between the OECS and USAID,

Dr Len Ishmael, Director General of the OECS expressed gratitude to the USAID for what she described as “a very speedy move from talk to action.”Dr Ishmael said the programme of collaboration is uniquely tailored to meet the needs of the communities of the OECS, a sub-region of less than 600,000 people, urgently requiring resources to assist them in securing their homes and properties and thereby reduce their vulnerability to natural disasters. Dr Ishmael added, “For small islands, the scale of resources needed to recover from, as well as, prepare for natural disasters, is non-existent. It is therefore a very good day for us, as we embrace the gesture of goodwill from the USAID for their assistance in making this programme practical.”

The ceremony, dubbed “historic and unique” by the OECS Director General, marked the beginning of a larger Regional Programme aimed at refining skills in the OECS in retrofitting works, community hazard mapping and slope stabilization. Dr Ishmael outlined the importance of the “pioneering collaborative effort” stating that it is expected to help provide guidance and information, which the sub-regional governments require for policy development on natural disaster management. It will also provide safety nets through micro-finance mechanisms that will empower communities, and in addition, will place the OECS in direct contact with builders, carpenters and community people. In addition, the programme will provide micro-finance for livelihood diversification at the community level. The outcome required to improve the resistance of homes and personal property in communities for an overall disaster risk reduction profile for the sub-region.

Mission Director for USAID, Jamaica-Caribbean Regional Program, Karen Turner noted that the United States Government is particularly concerned about the economic considerations for the Caribbean region in disaster risk reduction and management and as such has included this as a specific outcome in their five-year economic development strategy in the Caribbean over the period 2005 to 2009.

Turner underscored the importance of the OECS Sub region being better prepared for natural disasters saying,

The programme begins with a series of pilot activities starting in Saint Lucia and Dominica with USAID support for landslide mitigation activities, including low cost solutions such as installation of drainage, roof guttering, and water storage tanks as well as distribution of related public awareness materials.

Contacts

David Popo, Programme Officer OECS Environment and Sustainable Development Unit. (ESDU)
Kendol Morgan Senior Communications Officer OECS Secretariat This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Raymond O’Keiffe Comm.Officer OECS Secretariat email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it