Port of Spain: The Ministry of National Security, through the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), continues to boost the capabilities of this country’s disaster response agencies to better provide relief and recovery assistance to the public in times of emergency.
Today, Friday February 28, 2020, Minister of National Security the Honourable Stuart R. Young M.P. presented disaster relief items to nine (9) organisations at a Handover Ceremony held at the ODPM National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in Mausica.
The organisations that received disaster stores to be utilized in times of emergencies are: the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government; Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Social Development and Family Services; Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force; Trinidad and Tobago Police Service; Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service; the Tobago Emergency Management Agency; and the Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society.
Speaking at the Handover Ceremony, Minister Young gave the reassurance that the Ministry of National Security will continue to promote an integrated and robust Whole-Of-Government Approach to disaster risk management. He stated that collaboration among all state agencies is critical in disaster situations in order to ensure resilient communities. The Minister described the nine (9) organisations as having a pivotal role in emergency response planning, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and thanked all the representatives present for their service to the nation.
Bringing remarks on behalf of the receiving organisations, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Senator the Honourable Kazim Hosein thanked the Ministry of National Security for increasing the capacity of response agencies to better assist communities in the event of a disaster, by equipping these organisations with the necessary relief and response items.
Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer of the ODPM Major General (Retired) Rodney Smart described the pre-positioning of disaster relief items as an innovative initiative, aimed at enabling a more effective relief distribution system, which will aid in building a more disaster resilient nation.
Also present at the Handover Ceremony were Members of the Diplomatic Corps; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Security Mr. Vel Lewis; Permanent Secretaries from partner Government Ministries; and Heads of the Defence and Protective Services.
Over nine million, two hundred thousand dollars ($9,200,000.00) have been allocated for this initiative and the ODPM will oversee distribution of the relief supplies to the nine (9) organisations over the coming weeks.
Relief items include rescue rope ladders, high performance chemical suits, full body harnesses, safety straps, fire blankets, aluminum stretchers, bow saws, pickaxes, hand cranked portable generators, walkers, walking sticks, bedpans, crutches, bio hazard waste bags, quad canes, hydraulic bottle jacks, kerosene lanterns, workmen safety gloves and fuel containers.