Response improving

 THE Caribbean region has and continues to be exposed to chemical emergencies.

From a series of oil spills in 2013 in Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent and Dominica; to an explosion and fire of a recycling plant in Barbados and a landfill fire in St. Lucia; to cyanide leaks and pollution in Guyana and Suriname.

This was highlighted by Joanne Persad, Programme Manager, Response and Recovery at the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), during the opening ceremony of the regional meeting for National Emergency Co-ordinators under the Assistance and Protection, Caribbean Regional Project for Creation of a Regional Chemical Response Capacity at the Radisson Aquatica, recently.

Joanne Persad, Programme Manager, Response and Recovery at
the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).

The regional meeting for National Emergency Co-ordinators
under the Assistance and Protection, Caribbean Regional Project
for Creation of a Regional Chemical Response Capacity was
held at the Radisson Aquatica, in Barbados recently.

She recalled that last year, the CDEMA Co-ordinating Unit (CU) embarked on a more Comprehensive Strategic Approach to strengthen the regional capability for chemical emergencies.

“This strategy is an overarching approach to holistically consider the wider planning and development issues and the roles, responsibilities and functions of key stakeholders. It considers the need for firstly, a comprehensive risk assessment for Chemical Emergencies or Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, Nuclear (CBRN) at the regional level, for the national legislation and/or policy to support a wider national programme.”

Persad went on to indicate that within the scope of planning for natural hazards there has been the ongoing growth and development of a Regional Response Mechanism (RRM).

She said that the RRM is being expanded in several ways, including for chemical emergencies. She explained that the aim is to identify and build capacity for Chemical Emergencies or CBRN response support.

“There are several options for consideration as we seek to strengthen the region’s capability for addressing CBRN. One option for consideration is, in the same manner that SAR teams can be
deployed for SAR operations or the CARICOM Disaster Response Unit (CDRU) supports relief operations in an impacted state, there is the potential for a regional CBRN or HAZMAT team.

“Another option would be a mutual aid system, which already exists among 18 Participating states, but would be expanded and specifically designed to include CBRN particularly at the Sub-Regional Focal Grouping,” she highlighted. (TL)