The Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Elizabeth Riley, paid a courtesy call on Minister of Social and Urban Transformation and Local Government Rawdon Turner and Junior Minister Kiz Johnson on Wednesday, as efforts continue to strengthen disaster management and regional cooperation. According to Antigua.news, the discussions centred on CDEMA, the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS), and Antigua and Barbuda's role within the regional disaster management framework.
During the meeting, Riley underscored the importance of strengthening Antigua and Barbuda's position as a sub-regional focal point within the Caribbean's Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) system. She also outlined a range of plans and initiatives being pursued by CDEMA to improve regional preparedness, coordination, and resilience in response to natural disasters and emergencies.
Permanent Secretary Sarah Stuart, Craig Cole, Deputy Director of NODS, and Naomi Williams-Carvalho, Executive Assistant to NODS, were also present. Riley's Executive Assistant, Nanyamka Burnett, accompanied the Director during the visit.
Riley urged both ministers and their teams to actively engage in regional and international initiatives designed to strengthen the Caribbean's disaster management systems and foster greater collaboration among member states. She also provided an overview of CDEMA's regional mechanisms, as well as the agreements and legislative frameworks that underpin the agency's operations across the Caribbean.
The courtesy call forms part of a broader series of meetings and activities involving CDEMA officials in Antigua and Barbuda this week. The delegation is expected to participate in meetings with NODS and receive updates on agency-supported projects at the local level.
CDEMA officials are also scheduled to conduct field visits across Antigua and Barbuda on Friday to assess ongoing disaster preparedness efforts and initiatives. A significant milestone of the visit will be the signing of the Country Work Programme for the next five years, which aims to strengthen disaster resilience, preparedness, and emergency response coordination within Antigua and Barbuda.
