Caribbean News
Jamaican Gov’t gets disaster response equipment from United States
#KINGSTON, Feb. 24 (JIS): The Government has received a donation of heavy-duty equipment from the United States (US) Embassy in Kingston, and the Department of Defence, US Southern Command, to boost local disaster relief capacity.
The presentation was made at the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development in Kingston on Monday (February 24), with portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie and other Ministry officials accepting the equipment.
In his address, Mr. McKenzie noted that the gift resulted from discussions he had more than a year ago with then Chargé d’Affaires, Eric Khant.
“We discussed a number of issues, including the United States assisting us in terms of our disaster mitigation programme and we did indicate the need for heavy-duty equipment of this sort. These added equipment could not have come at a better time, considering that we are approaching the new hurricane season,” the Minister said.
He expressed appreciation for the support on behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica.
The 195 Horse Power CASE 712F Series Front-End Scoop Loader and Bobcat Skid Loader were handed over by Defence Attaché at the US Embassy, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Ramsay. Both pieces of equipment are valued at over US$250,000.
“Both the CASE and Bobcat can be used for debris removal, clearing roads and just about anything. You can also load humanitarian assistance commodities on an aircraft with them. The Bobcat is very versatile and deployable to other parts of the island,” Lieutenant Colonel Ramsay said.
“This is really for humanitarian assistance in disaster relief and to show a strong partnership in continuously improving the capacity of the Jamaican Government to respond to disasters. This is the second donation we have made following discussions (between the Ministry and US Embassy),” he added.
This handover comes on the heels of the US Embassy’s donation of first responder equipment valued at over $30 million to the Jamaica Fire Brigade last July.
Lieutenant Colonel Ramsay said that through the Department of Defence and other US agencies, such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States remains ready to assist Jamaica in exercises, training, planning and the donation of equipment where needed.
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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