Minister of Social and Urban Transformation Hon. Rawdon Turner has called for deeper regional cooperation to bolster disaster preparedness and protect lives across the Caribbean, according to Antigua.news. The minister made the appeal during his participation in the Sixteenth Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
The high-level gathering brought together ministers responsible for disaster risk management from across the region to review priorities and advance policies aimed at improving preparedness, response, and resilience in the face of increasingly complex hazards.
Minister Turner stressed that effective disaster management cannot be confined within national borders and demands collective regional action.
"Preparedness is not just a national responsibility; it is a regional imperative. Hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, and other hazards do not recognize borders, which is why collaboration across the Caribbean is so important," he said.
He highlighted the value of shared expertise and coordinated strategies in better protecting vulnerable communities throughout the region.
"As we plan together and learn from one another, we build a safer and more resilient Caribbean for our people. Together, we can reduce risk, protect lives, and recover stronger from whatever challenges come our way," Minister Turner added.
The Council of Ministers serves as CDEMA's principal policy-making body, responsible for considering recommendations from national disaster management agencies and shaping the region's approach to disaster risk reduction and emergency management.
Discussions at the Trinidad and Tobago meeting centred on enhancing regional cooperation, strengthening disaster response mechanisms, and advancing policies that improve the Caribbean's capacity to prepare for and respond to natural hazards and other emergencies.
