The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has finished implementing the second phase of the Caribbean Disaster Management (CADM) Project; establishing an emergency shelter, early warning system and evacuation response mechanisms in the Upper Mahaica area.
In Guyana, the CADM Project examined the extent to which the Upper Mahaica communities are affected by flooding and focused on mapping possible flood zones at Grass Hook, Little and Big Biaboo. To complement this, residents were trained in disaster risk management and have been taught how to mitigate their exposure to risk and reduce potential flood hazard.
The CDC also collaborated with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Caricom organisations to install water level gauges at Little Biaboo (health centre), Maduni and St Cuthbert’s Mission and a rain gauge at St Cuthbert’s Mission. The three-year project also implemented disaster risk management and flood early warning systems in four other Caribbean countries: Belize, Dominica, Grenada and St Lucia, the CDC said in a press statement.
CDC Director General Colonel (rtd) Chabilall Ramsarup said the Commission appreciated the assistance provide by the Japanese government and the JICA to establish the disaster risk reduction system. He said based on the success of this project, similar applications/interventions can be made in other flood prone communities.
Ramsarup also said the CDC is grateful to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology and national agencies for their integrated in ensuring the success of the project.
