The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the University of Guyana (UG) yesterday signed an agreement that will see volunteers from the Volunteer Emergency Response Team (VERT) benefiting from an Introduction to Disaster Risk Management certificate from the University.
According to a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency, the signing was done by Director-General (Ag), CDC, Lieutenant Colonel, Kester Craig and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Engagement, UG, Professor Michael Scott and occurred at the conclusion of the launch of the VERT training programme for the first 41 volunteers held at Camp Madewini, Timehri which started on March 15.
The three-day launch programme was done in collaboration with UG, ExxonMobil and the Caribbean Disaster Risk Management Agency (CDEMA) with the aim of raising awareness of VERT programmes among volunteers and key partners, the statement said.
The Agreement will also enable UG students to obtain internship opportunities at the CDC.
“This particular programme is more of an advanced programme where volunteers will be trained in detailed disaster risk management and primarily to support the communities and the regions but more importantly to support the Caribbean, responding to hurricanes and tsunamis in islands that are usually affected every year,” Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig stated.
He said that among the volunteers are doctors, lawyers, engineers, media workers and persons in technical professions.
The VERT training programme will last for one year during which time the volunteers will be exposed to both theoretical and practical training in damage assessment, search and rescue and oil spill response, among others.
