Tortola,Virgin Islands (UK) - Representatives from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) which was formerly known as CDERA have introduced the Comprehensive Disaster Management Harmonized Implementation Programme (CDM HIP) – Phase One to National Disaster Organisations representatives in the Virgin Islands. Ms. Cisne Pascal, Programme Coordinator for CDM HIP Phase One is seen here giving an overview of the CDEMA five-year project. They did so on Wednesday, September 16, at the Treasure Isle Hotel Conference Room where officers from key ministries, departments and statutory boards were in attendance. Ms. Cisne Pascal, Programme Coordinator and Ms Gayle Drakes, Programme Officer for CDM HIP/CDEMA, presented on the transition from CDERA to CDEMA and gave an overview of the CDM HIP Phase One.

The CDM HIP Phase One is a five-year project that is expected to be implemented in 18 participating states, including the Virgin Islands and will run until March 2013. The US$11,706,192 project is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), with contributions from other donors, including CDEMA’s participating states. The long term overall impact of this programme is to achieve regional sustainable development through the reduction of losses in the Caribbean region and to impact disaster management coordination at the national and regional levels. The major results of this programme are two-fold providing enhanced institutional support for CDM Programme implementation and enhanced community resilience in CDEMA states. Implemented by CDEMA in partnership with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), this programme supports the Caribbean’s enhanced CDM strategy via a harmonized multi-donor approach. The Virgin Islands and the Department of Disaster Management were lauded for achieving an advanced stage in preparatory work in developing a National CDM Policy Strategy and Programming Framework. At Wednesday’s workshop, His Excellency, Governor David Pearey, Ms. Sharleen Dabreo, Director of the DDM and Ms. Arlene Smith, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governnor’s Office were among those delivering brief remarks. During their visit to the Virgin Islands the CDEMA officials met with representatives from the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, Trade and Investment Promotions and other key Government agencies as well as local contractors to examine and document the successes of the Safer Building Programme in the Virgin Islands. This programme is designed to help improve the resilience of buildings to withstand the impact of disaster and it is the intention of CDEMA to replicate this programme in its other 17 participating states. National and Regional Organisations and sectors will be supported in mitigating, managing and coordinating recovery and rehabilitation as they pertain to hazards and climate variability and change. The increase in the resiliency of communities, National and Regional Organisations and sectors will be sought through the elaboration of adaptation of model approaches including the creation and implementation of a system for the Monitoring, Evaluating and Reporting (ME&R) of the regional enhanced Comprehensive Development Strategy (CDM). CDEMA is the regional inter-governmental agency that is responsible for disaster management.