St. Kitts and Nevis: Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew attended the opening ceremony of the 13th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.
PM Drew shared the photographs from the ongoing conference and emphasized that such events drive economic growth by creating more jobs and supporting the youth financially.
Reportedly, the conference is organized by CDEMA – Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency. This is the first time that the Caribbean Conference on CDM is being held in an OECS Country. St. Kitts and Nevis got that opportunity to host the conference and will observe it from Dec 02 to 06, 2024.
The conference is held under the theme ‘Road to Resilience – Checkpoint 2024: Levelling Up for a Dynamic Future’. The event features diverse programme, which include keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops and networking opportunities that are designed to address the evolving challenges and opportunities in disaster risk reduction and management.
Caribbean Conference on CDM is a biennial event that brings together stakeholders from across the Caribbean region to discuss the advanced strategies for disaster risk management, response and resilience building.
More than 400 delegates are attending the conference, following the recently held Business and Professional Women (BPW) Congress, which was held for the first time in the Caribbean and welcomed over 300 participants from around the globe.
The opening ceremony of the 13th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management also featured remarks by the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis – Dr. Terrance Drew, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Minister of Government of St. Kitts and Nevis – Dr. Carla Barnett and by the Executive Director of CDMEA – Elizabeth Riley.
Presenting his remarks during the opening ceremony Prime Minister Drew set an inspiring tone for the conference considering the theme of the event.
PM Drew said that the occasion marks a historic milestone for the twin-island Federation, which is currently pursuing a transformative agenda to fulfil the goals and vision of becoming a Sustainable Island State. He explained the significance of the conference and stated that hosting this premier event in St. Kitts and Nevis positions the Federation as a regional leader in disaster resilience and sustainable development.
Dr. Drew further outlined the challenges faced by the Caribbean and noted the vulnerabilities of the region to increasing severe hurricanes, rising sea levels and seismic activities. He affirmed that resilience is not only possible but essential for the survival of the region.
The Prime Minister added to his statement and said that they may be vulnerable, but they are not helpless. The conference is proof of the collective resolve to transform challenges into opportunities and vulnerabilities into strengths.
While making his remarks PM Drew stressed upon the importance of the regional collaboration and lauded the efforts of CDEMA in coordinating the disaster responses, fostering unity.
Furthermore, he called for the Caribbean to strengthen partnerships through enhanced information-sharing platforms, regional stockpiles and joint public awareness campaigns.