KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — A national emergency communication network is to be established to strengthen early warning systems for disasters at the local level.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie, made the announcement adding that this will be undertaken in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Director, Urban and Regional Planning, Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Marsha Henry-Martin, read the minister’s speech at a post-evaluation workshop for phase two of the Caribbean Disaster Management project (CADM2), at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, on Thursday.

McKenzie noted that the establishment of this network is important to increasing resilience to disasters at the community level, which remains a key area of focus of the Government.

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is to undertake the initiative with grant funding from JICA.

In addition, some community early-warning systems are to be developed and rehabilitated by the Water Resources Authority, following the receipt of grant funding.

Also highlighting the importance of these mechanisms, Executive Director, Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Ronald Jackson, noted that countries in the region have to remain steadfast in resolving the challenges that have prevented the establishment of “robust people-centred early warning systems”.

“CDEMA and many of the regional stakeholders remain committed to the aspirations of advancing early warning systems as a means of achieving community resilience,” Jackson said.

In the meantime, Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, Masanori Nakano, said his country remains committed to partnering with Caribbean countries to help build disaster resilience using its own experiences.

“Our coming together at this JICA/CDEMA workshop is a clearer indication that Japan, in spite of its own disaster-risk challenges, is wholeheartedly committed to providing sterling support and expertise to address the disaster risk challenges faced by small-island developing states (SIDS) in the region, especially related to climate change,” the ambassador said.

During the ceremony, Jackson presented a representational cheque valued at $10.2 million to ODPEM for its Help Haiti Initiative, through which the agency is providing support for Haiti, which was devastated by Hurricane Matthew last year.