TCI PARTICIPATES IN THE 15TH MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF the Caribbean disaster emergency management agency (CDEma)

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 4 July 2025 – Hon. Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development with responsibility for the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies led a delegation to the 15^th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), hosted by the Commonwealth of Bahamas on 27^th June, 2025.

The meeting brought together Ministers and delegates with responsibility for Disaster Risk Management from the nineteen (19) CDEMA participating states.

The theme for this year meeting was ‘Resilient States, Safer Lives’. The agenda for the meeting coincided with the theme, focusing on building resilience in member states for the ultimate benefit of the Caribbean region. Moreover, the CDEMA Coordinating Unit re-affirmed its commitment to supporting member states and encouraged more effective collaboration and strengthening of partnerships to mitigate against the impact of all hazards.

During the meeting, Ministers deliberated on a vast array of topics, including:

• Organizational Restructuring of the CDEMA Coordinating Unit
• Enhancing Regional Operational Readiness
• Resource Mobilization
• Multi-hazard Risk Assessments
• Regional Emergency Telecommunications Strategy; and
• ICT Contingency Planning

Hon. Arlington Musgrove noted that “the TCI is enhancing community preparedness, investing in multi-hazard early warning systems and improving coordination across all levels of government. This meeting is a critical step to ensuring TCI can respond decisively to all hazards, particularly considering the commencement of the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season”

Minister Musgrove further commented on the importance of community engagement and public awareness across the archipelago, noting that “building a culture of preparedness starts with informed and empowered citizens.”