Caribbean disaster preparedness underfunded, says regional exec
Published:Tuesday | June 2, 2015 | 12:00 AM
Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Ronald Jackson, has made a call for more funding to be allocated to disaster risk reduction regionally.
Speaking with The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre Jackson lamented that there is insufficient funding for disaster risk reduction.
CDEMA Executive Director, Ronald Jackson
Jackson says disaster preparedness in the region is underfunded.
He says a focus on climate change has overshadowed disaster risk reduction efforts.
CDEMA Executive Director, Ronald Jackson
The former director general of ODPEM said that Jamaica has one of the more developed disaster mechanisms in the region.
However, he says this should not be a cause for complacency.
He also said that CDEMA is depending on Jamaica to provide support to other countries in the region in the event of a hurricane.
Jackson also pointed to weaknesses in first responder services and called for these to be strengthened and properly funded.