#Barbados, April 27, 2020 (CDEMA) – Following seven (7) years of unwavering and exemplary service to the region, Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Mr. Ronald Jackson bids farewell to the Agency as of Thursday April 30, 2020.
Mr. Ronald Jackson
was appointed Executive Director of CDEMA on April 3, 2013 and has since provided
outstanding leadership to the CDEMA Coordinating Unit and in the implementation
of the Agency’s policies and programmes. Mr. Jackson has also provided sterling
leadership of the regional coordination and responses to Dominica, St. Lucia
and St. Vincent after the Christmas Trough in 2013, Tropical Storm Erika in
Dominica in 2015, Hurricanes Irma and Maria (impacting 9 of CDEMA Participating
States) in 2017, Hurricane Dorian in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in 2019
and in the current COVID-19 Pandemic now affecting the region.
Under his
stewardship, the Agency gained further recognition and prominence throughout
the Caribbean and globally as one of the foremost regional disaster risk management
institutions and a preferred partner for a safe and more resilient Caribbean. He has forged
relationships and cultivated several strategic partnerships with a broad-based
and diverse range of regional and international development partners, donors, governments,
private sector entities and non-governmental organisations.
His commitment and
advocacy in promoting and advancing the implementation of the Comprehensive
Disaster Management Strategy and Framework for the Region, has captivated many
audiences across the globe, resulting in a significant increase of resources through
donor financing support to the implementation of Disaster Risk Management programmes
in Participating States. He led the development of the Caribbean Pathway to
Resilience and spearheaded its socialization within the region and among the
Americas. Mr. Jackson was also instrumental in the strengthening of cooperative
arrangements with the Disaster Management Organization in the Dominican
Republic, with the French Overseas Territories and the Dutch Caribbean. CDEMA’s
Membership also increased from 18 to 19 under his stewardship.
“This is a bitter
sweat moment for me. I am excited at the opportunity to be able to practice in a
global capacity but I feel a sense of duty to the Caribbean Community and as
such a part of me will miss working in a context that inspires innovation. However,
I feel that I am leaving behind a wonderful platform for the continued
advancement of the Region’s Integrated Risk Management Agenda and the continued
growth of the Agency”, said Jackson.
Mr. Jackson has been extensively involved in disaster management at the
national, regional and international level in various capacities. He served as
the Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency
Management (ODPEM) in Jamaica, a position he held between August 2006 and March
2013. He also currently lectures on Disaster Risk Management in the Tourism and
Occupational Health and Safety Masters Programme at the University of the West
Indies Cave Hill and Mona.
CDEMA is extremely appreciative of Mr. Jackson’s
service and the legacy he leaves in building a culture of safety and a disaster
resilient region.
CDEMA also takes this opportunity to wish Mr. Jackson
the very best in his future endeavours.
Magnetic Media is a Telly Award winning multi-media company specializing in creating compelling and socially uplifting TV and Radio broadcast programming as a means for advertising and public relations exposure for its clients.
Jamaica got a 3 million US dollar grant from humanitarian charity organisation Direct Relief, as part of its mission to strengthen resilience in the Caribbean region. This is also an effort to enhance Healthcare systems and infrastructure throughout Jamaica in preparation for natural disasters as the organization renews its ongoing partnership with the island. This was announced by Direct Relief in an article on May 1.
To enhance and strengthen security in the Guiana Shield, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana on Monday April 29, signed a security common master plan following a meeting in George Town, as announced By President of Guyana Irfaan Ali on Facebook. Ali expressed that the agreement will hopefully enhance collaborations and relations between Suriname and French Guiana.
The Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, at the 2024 Sustainable Tourism Conference on April 22, expressed that Caribbean universities should be leading researchers for coral restoration as he addressed the importance of corals to the region’s capacity for tourism sustainability amid climate change
Regarding this, he called for more funding to encourage universities to create more marine experts, given the region’s vulnerability to climate change effects.