CATEGORY:DISASTER PREPAREDNESS ---------------------------------- INSIDE GRENADA Tuesday Friday 27,2007 by Rawle Titus ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada: Cuba is to help Grenada improve its ability to mitigate against disasters. A two man delegation from Havana is in St. George’s wrapping up a ten day fact finding visit following a request for assistance from the Grenada government after Hurricane Ivan. The team has been holdings meetings with key stakeholders in disaster Management. They have already met with officials from the Grenada Electricity Company, Nawasa, the Met office, and Port Authority. Visits have also been made to Hurricane shelters including the recently commissioned multi-million dollar prototype shelter in Marian. Dominguez Catadero heads the two man delegation. “We are here for ten days more or less and we are visiting many facilities like the water supplies, energy and we are exchanging experience. We are finding out about the plans and how these institutions are prepared for Hurricane and other events.” He said. The team made a special presentation to a special meeting of the National Emergency Advisory Council (NEAC) this week on the effectiveness of Cuba’s Disaster Management Structure. The visiting team will submit a report on their findings to the Grenada Government.Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) Sylvan McIntyre says the Cuban officials are closely studying Grenada’s Disaster Management plans. “The visit will serve as collaboration between Grenada and Cuba in terms of disaster management enhancement. It is also and exchange of experience and information” McIntyre said. “The fact that Cuba has to deal with Hurricanes on a yearly basis, the experience will help to serve us well in terms of how well we are prepared and also because they are looking at other forms of hazards. We are doing the same thing”. Cuba has been credited as a country that has excelled in their Disaster Management practices and local officials are excited about forging closer ties with Havana in this area.