CATEGORY:DISASTER PREPAREDNESS ----------------------------------- INSIDE GRENADA Sunday March 11,2007 by Rawle Titus ST. GEORGE’S: Cuban officials who just wrapped up a fact finding mission to Grenada are suggesting three ways to help improve the country’s Disaster Management practices. Domingo Carretero and Reynaldo Rodriguez who returned to last week say Grenada should move quickly to enact Disaster Management legislation, a process already in the pipeline. Also, they say more risk assessment is needed to determine vulnerable areas in the tri-island state. And, they are recommending more allocation of resources to education to help prepare the population to deal with disasters. These recommendations have been included in the team’s preliminary report presented last week to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell, the chairman of the National Emergency Advisory Council (NEAC). “All the information that they have gathered they would take it back to their office in Cuba , do an analysis and be able to write a more comprehensive report on what the situation is and give recommendations on how they think Cuban can assist in some of these areas” said Rodriguez, speaking through a local interpreter Inspector Solomon Stafford. Over the past ten days, the Cubans have been examining Grenada’s Disaster Management practices by holding a series of meetings with key stakeholders, including, water, electricity, and communication. They have generally been complimentary of their findings and say lessons learnt from the two major hurricanes have been applied in the reconstruction. “The survey of the Cubans will mean a lot to us because on their return , I am sure they will be submitting a comprehensive report indicating where we need to improve” said Nadma Coordinator Sylvan McIntyre. Rodriguez and Carretero‘s visit is as a result of a government request after Hurricane Ivan, an event which has highlighted the need for better Disaster Management practices.