The Turks and Caicos Islands can “lead the way” in Caribbean disaster management, as they get a chance to share the success in recovering from major disasters such as hurricane Ike at a high profile conference in Jamaica.
Youngsters from the TCI’s National Youth Parliament will also be acting as the Islands’ ambassadors, taking part in a debate with other young people from across the region.
A team drawn from various sectors of the TCI society will spend the week at the conference in Jamaica exchanging experiences with counterparts drawn from across the Caribbean.
The event will be hosted and funded by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Jamaica in partnership with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).
The TCI team will lead discussions on the coordinated recovery effort following Ike, which included funding and expert assistance from the UK Department for International Development, CEDEMA and Regional bodies as well as other TCI disaster management stakeholders.
Director of the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies Jamell Robinson is one of the TCI’s main presenters.
“I am honored to be given the opportunity to present a paper on the ‘Turks and Caicos Islands Recovery Post Hurricane Ike’ at the 5th annual Caribbean Comprehensive Disaster Management Conference 2010.
“The TCI can lead the way in the region by showing how recovery can be done after a devastating impact on one’s country. Being part of a bigger contingent of disaster management stakeholders from the TCI also shows that here disaster management is everyone’s business. “
The TCI participants will include a group of youths who will, among other things, engage in a debate competition.
“We have members of the National Youth Parliament participating in the youth session to debate a Jamaican school which is great to see, as TCI youths are doing positive things and are being rewarded for it and who best to be our cultural ambassadors than the youth of our country,” Robinson said.
The TCI Team will also include representatives of the small and medium size business sector and the physical planning department of government.
