In a bold move towards bolstering its disaster preparedness infrastructure, Antigua
and Barbuda recently hosted the second National Consultative Workshop on Multi-
Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) at the prestigious St. James’s Club. This
pivotal gathering served as a follow-up to the inaugural workshop held in
December, where participants collaborated to conduct a comprehensive Gap
Analysis.
Stakeholders representing various sectors vital to the nation’s economy converged
at the event, underscoring the significance of the initiative. Notable attendees
included representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social
Transformation, the Antigua and Barbuda Met Service, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, and the Department of the Environment, the Chamber of Commerce,
Antigua Barbuda Fire Service, among others. Facilitated by the UN Office for
Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the National Office for Disaster Services
(NODS), the workshop marked the second installment under the Early Warnings 4
ALL (EW4ALL) Initiative.
EW4ALL, championed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, aims to equip
all nations with robust Early Warning Systems (EWS) by 2027. Simply put, EWS
are integrated systems that encompass hazard monitoring, forecasting, risk
assessment, communication, and preparedness activities. These systems empower
individuals, communities, governments, businesses, and other stakeholders to take
timely action to mitigate disaster risks before hazardous events occur.
Technical Consultant for UNDRR, Mali Barnes, emphasized the workshop’s
primary objective: to unveil an implementation plan and roadmap delineating
Antigua and Barbuda’s strategy to achieve comprehensive MHEWS coverage by
2027. Director of NODS, Sherrod James, expressed gratitude for the unwavering
support from local stakeholders and expressed eagerness to translate the
deliberated activities into tangible outcomes.
Programme Manager for the Caribbean at UNDRR, Dr. Jair Torres, commended
Antigua and Barbuda’s proactive stance towards disaster risk reduction.
Highlighting the country’s pivotal role within the EW4ALL initiative, Dr. Torres
underscored its inclusion alongside Barbados, Haiti, Guyana, and Suriname as
Caribbean trailblazers under the initiative’s ambit.
Supported by regional and international partners such as the Caribbean Disaster
Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), World Meteorological Organization
(WMO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Pan American
Health Organization (PAHO), among others, the workshop symbolized a
collaborative effort towards building resilience and safeguarding the future of
Antigua and Barbuda.
As the world’s gaze turns towards the imperative task of fortifying disaster
preparedness and resilience, Antigua and Barbuda’s steadfast commitment serves
as a beacon of hope and inspiration for nations worldwide.
