ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada (October 05, 2006) - The National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) has welcomed the appointment of a Disaster Preparedness Coordinator to the Grenada Red Cross.
Kathy-Ann Morain has been appointed to the position and this week paid a visit to the Fort Frederick headquarters to meet with District Coordinators.
“We just came from a meeting with (NaDMA) and we are hoping that we can collaborate and so we can better put our resources together and so eliminate the duplications” Miss Morain said after her meeting with the District Coordinators.
Since the passage of Hurricane Ivan two years ago, Red Cross says its workload in Disaster Management has increased significantly. Director General, Terry Charles, says the appointment of a Disaster Management Coordinator reduces the burden on Red Cross staff.
“Over the past two years we have done so much for disaster training and disaster response that it has become overwhelming for members of staff” Charles said.
“So with the limited funding we have we decided to bring on a full time Disaster Coordinator who is able to focus completely on Disaster Management from a Red Cross point of view.
Morain’s appointment is expected to lead to greater cooperation between Red Cross and NaDMA on Disaster Management issues.
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell, the chairman of the National Emergency Advisory Council (NEAC), the body that advises NaDMA, recently called for increased cooperation among agencies working in the interest of Disaster Management.
“The people who most in need would ultimate get help and so we would not have recurrences of persons receiving help three and four times” Morain said. “We have come up with a plan where we work with the district and persons at the village levels to ensure those problems are eliminated and we can see much more improvement in those services”.
The meeting between the Red Cross Director, the Red Cross Disaster Preparedness Coordinator and the District Coordinator was aimed at fostering a closer working relationship.
“Red Cross will continue to collaborate with NaDMA and with government in the delivery of Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Management overall. Definitely collaboration is an issue that we have always put on the table even within the national plan” Charles said.
“Grenada Red Cross is expected to collaborate with all the NGOs in terms of Disaster Management so we have worked in the past together and there is always room for improvement and strengthening “.
