DRAFT Regional Workshop Report

Transcription

1 Caribbean Emergency Legislation Project Regional Workshop Bay Gardens Beach Resort Dolphins Conference Center Rodney Bay, May 21, :00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. DRAFT Regional Workshop Report Introduction In the context of the Caribbean Emergency Legislation Project (CELP), the Department of Sustainable Development conducted a regional workshop in. The objective of the workshop was to provide an overview of key issues in disaster and emergency legislation and the CELP, serve as a forum to discuss key challenges in the legal and institutional frameworks of the project countries, budget appropriation and execution for natural disasters, disaster risk reductions tools such as insurance; and identify best practices. Key stakeholders from the national and regional levels discussed their experiences, provided recommendations for improvement, and identified next steps. In sum, the regional workshop built on the findings of the national workshops conducted in Grenada and Jamaica and provided an excellent opportunity to engage experts from across the region and validate the project s findings. Opening remarks and General overview of the workshop Ms. Ann-Marie Blackman, Organization of American States (OAS) Representative in Saint Lucia, welcomed the workshop s participants and briefly addressed the objective of workshop and highlighted OAS initiatives in the area of disaster management and

2 reiterated that the OAS has always recognized disaster mitigation/management as a development issue. Following Ms. Blackman s remarks, Mr. Cletus I. Springer, Director, OAS-Department of Sustainable Development (DSD), reminded the participants of the importance of their role and input at the meeting. Mr. Cosmos Richardson, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister,, also welcomed the participants to and the regional workshop, and thanked the OAS for making technical and other resources available to facilitate the event. During the course of the one day workshop, approximately thirty-seven participants from across the Caribbean region, representing various entities including: National Disaster/Emergency Management Officers, Attorney General departments, Ministries of Finance, Civil Protection Agencies, CCRIF, CDEMA, UNDP, OECS Secretariat, IFRC, Eastern Caribbean Court, CCCCC, and the insurance sector (see Annex 2 Participant List) met to discuss the project s findings and offer recommendations. The OAS provided an overview of key issues in disaster legislation and the CELP, and a report of the working group sessions conducted at the national workshops. Further, the project s team members shared the findings of the project with the plenary, in the following areas: (1) State of Emergency, Budget Appropriation, Execution and Accountability: Key Challenges in Caribbean Legal and Institutional Frameworks; (2) Comparative analysis of International Legal and Institutional Frameworks; and (3) Best practices and recommendations identified for improved legal-institutional frameworks. Finally, representatives from CDEMA, the CCRIF, and the IDRL/IFRC offered stakeholder experiences. In consideration of the information gleaned from the presentations made, the following are the recommendations offered by the meeting s participants: Adopt model legislation to local circumstances. The OAS reminded the participants that given the unique circumstances of each country, the project s

3 outcome would not be a model legislation, but a set of recommendations and principles that may be adopted at the national level Establish a National Disaster Trust Fund Some countries should include mandatory evacuation provisions in their legislation as has done. The legal implications of forced movement must be considered. The provisions should also consider when persons are to be evacuated from disaster areas. Place more emphasis on mitigation and regulations and standards. Further, there needs to be a movement towards creating and implementing regulations Include in legislation issues pertaining to multi-hazards and early warning systems Collaborate with CDEMA in their review of the Model Disaster Legislation Examine Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and their impact on national disaster laws. Examine land use laws and the benefit they may have for disaster risk management The meeting concluded with the understanding that the OAS would disseminate to each country a country brief with the project s findings, and support efforts to mainstream findings in the ongoing process. This support would involve, inter alia, identifying synergies with CDEMA s efforts on the model disaster legislation.

4 Annex 1 Agenda: CELP Regional Workshop Caribbean Emergency Legislation Project Regional Workshop Bay Gardens Beach Resort Dolphins Conference Center Rodney Bay, May 21, :00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. FINAL Agenda 9:00 a.m. Opening Remarks -Anne Marie Blackman, OAS- Representative in - Cletus Springer, OAS-DSD Director - Cosmos Richardson, Permanent Secretary - Office of the Prime Minister of, and Deputy Chairman of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) of Saint Lucia 9:30 a.m. Overview of Key Issues in Disaster Legislation and the Caribbean Emergency Legislation Project -Claudia de Windt, Senior Legal Specialist, Environmental Law, Policy and Good Governance Section, OAS-DSD 9:45 a.m. State of Emergency, Budget Appropriation, Execution and Accountability: Key Challenges in Caribbean Legal and Institutional Frameworks -Judy Daniel, President, Environmental Advisors Inc., OAS-DSD Consultant 10:15 a.m. Report of Working Group sessions in National Workshops -Michelle-Ann C. Williams, Legal Specialist, Environmental Law, Policy and Good Governance Section, OAS-DSD 10: 30 a.m. Stakeholder experiences - Danielle Skeete, Technical Coordinator, Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency) - Ekhosuehi Iyahen, Supervisor, Caribbean Catastrophic Risk Insurance Facility, Caribbean Risk Managers Limited -Isabelle Granger, IDRL Coordinator, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

5 11:15 a.m. Coffee Break 11:30 a.m. Guided Discussion on National Experiences -Introduced and Chaired by Cosmos Richardson, Permanent Secretary - Office of the Prime Minister of and Deputy Chair of NEMO 1:00 p.m. Lunch 2:30 p.m. Comparative analysis of International Legal and Institutional Frameworks -Tomme Young, OAS-DSD Consultant 2:45 p.m. Best practices and recommendations identified for improved legal-institutional frameworks - Sasha Watson, Partner, WatsonWebley Advisors and Consultants Limited (Jamaica), OAS-DSD Consultant 3:00 p.m. Open Discussion 4:30 p.m. Close Dawn French, Director, NEMO

6 Annex 2 Regional Workshop s List of Participants Caribbean Emergency Legislation Project (CELP) Regional Workshop Bay Gardens Beach Resort Dophin Conference Room Rodney Bay, May 21, :00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. FINAL Participant List NATIONAL COORDINATORS 1. Antigua and Barbuda National Office of Disaster Services P.O. Box 1399 American Road St. John s Antigua and Barbuda Phone: (268) Fax: (268) nodsanu@gmail.com Philmore Mullin - Director 2. Barbados Department of Emergency No. 30 Warrens Industrial Park Warrens St. Michael Barbados Phone: (246) Fax: (246) deminfo@barbados.gov.bb Judy Thomas Director 3. Dominica Office of Disaster Management c/o Ministry of Public Utilities Post Office Building Bayfront Roseau Dominica Phone: (767) Fax: (767) odmdominica@gmail.com Nathanael Isaacs National Disaster Coordinator

7 4. Grenada National Disaster Management Agency Fort Frederick Mt. Wheldale St. George s Grenada Phone: (473) Fax: (473) nadma@caribsurf.com Terence Walters Deputy Disaster Coordinator 5. Jamaica Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management 12 Camp Road P.O. Box 122 Kingston 4 Jamaica Phone: (876) /5 Fax: (876) odpem@cwjamaica.com Ronald Jackson Director General 6. Saint Kitts and Nevis National Disaster Management Agency P.O. Box 181 Lime Kiln Basseterre St. Kitts and Nevis Phone: (869) Fax: (869) nemaskb@thecable.net Telca Wallace District Coordinator 7. National Emergency Management Organisation Bisee Castries Phone: (758) Fax: (758) slunemo@gmail.com A. L. Dawn French Director 8. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines National Emergency Management Organisation Ministry of National Security Old Montrose Kingstown St. Vincent and the Grenadines Phone: (784) Fax: (784) nemosvg@gmail.com Erma Creese Assistant Secretary 9. Dominican Republic Comision Nacional de Emergencias Edif. Comision Nacional de Emergencias 1er Piso Plaza de la Salud Santo Domingo Republica Dominicana Phone: (809) Fax: (809) /24 Modesto Berroa Attorney-at-Law 10. Haiti Directorate of Civil Protection Ministry of the Interior Rue de la Reunion Port au Prince

8 Tel: (509) Abel Nazaire Deputy Coordinator Jean-Michel Sabbat Coordinator, South East Region 11. Trinidad and Tobago Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management 4A Orange Grove Road Trincity Tacarigua Phone: (868) Fax: (868) Karen Lynch Deputy Chief Executive Officer GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES/AGENCIES 12. Belize Attorney General s Ministry West Block Building Belmopan Belize Phone: (501) Fax: (501) agministrybze@yahoo.com Nelda Tulcey Legislative Draftsperson tulceyne@yahoo.com 13. Saint Kitts and Nevis Attorney General s Office Government Headquarters Basseterre, Saint Kitts Phone: (869) Fax: (869) Jihan Williams Attorney-at-Law jihan_williams@hotmail.com 14. Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Finance Level 18 Eric Williams Finance Building Independence Square Trinidad and Tobago Phone: (868) ext: Fax: (868) ext: 2810 Seema Mohammed seemamohamd@gmail.com 15. Ministry of Justice 2 nd Floor Francis Compton Building Waterfront, Castries Phone: (758) Fax: (758) Marlene Alexander marlsz@yahoo.com Ministry of Finance 3 rd Floor Financial Centre Bridge Street, Castries Phone: (758) Fax: (758) / Pamela Drysdale dryo1967@hotmail.com Ministry of Physical Development, Environment and Housing 3 rd Floor, Greaham Lousiy Administrative Building Waterfront, Castries

9 Phone: (758) Fax: (758) Liza Victor Air and Sea Ports Authority Manoel Street Castries Phone: (758) /4 Fax: (758) Kennedy Francis Chief of Ports Police Phone: (758) Fax: (758) Royal Police Force ACP Moses Charles moses_c@hotmail.com Fire Service A.D.O. Raphael Seriver Lambert Charles lambertcharles62@yahoo.com CIVIL SOCIETY 16. Caribbean Policy Development Center Halsworth, Welches Road St. Michael, Barbados Phone: (246) /6 Fax: (246) coorcpdc@caribsurf.com Cecilia Babb Executive Coordinator REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 17. Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency Building #1 Manor Lodge Lodge Hill St. Michael Barbados Phone: (246) Fax: (246) danielle.skeete@cdema.org Danielle Skeete - Technical Coordinator 18. Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility c/o Caribbean Risk Managers (CaribRM) Suite Number 6, Barbados Hardware Complex Haggat Hall, St. Michael BB11059 Barbados Phone: (246) Fax: (246) eiyahen@ccrif.org Ekhosuehi Iyahen Project Development Officer eiyahen@caribrm.com 19. Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre 2nd Floor, Lawrence Nicholas Building Ring Road, P.O. Box 563 Belmopan Belize Phone: (501) (501) (501)

10 Fax: (501) Winston Bennett Project Coordinator Insurance Council of Contact : Joralia St. Louis joralia.stlouis@beacon.co.tt 21. Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat Morne Fortune P O Box 179 Castries Phone: (758) (758) (758) Fax: (758) Joan Norville Programme Officer jnorville@oecs.org 22. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) UNDP Barbados and the OECS, UN House Marine Gardens Christ Church Barbados Phone: (246) Fax: (246) Ian King - Programme Manager, Disaster Risk Reduction Ian.king@undp.org 23. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Panama) International Disaster Response Law, Rules, and Principles Programme (IDRL) 115 Ave. Vicente Bonilla Ciudad del Saber Panama Panama Phone: (507) Fax: (507) Isabelle Granger - IDRL Coordinator for the Americas isabelle.granger@ifrc.org 24. General Secretariat of the Organization of American States 1889 F Street NW Washington DC, United States of America Phone: (202) Fax: (202) Anne-Marie Blackman OAS-Saint Lucia Representative ablackman@oas.org Phone: (758) / Fax: (758) Cletus I. Springer Director, Department of Sustainable Development cspringer@oas.org Phone: (202) Claudia S. de Windt Chief, Environmental Law, Policy and Good Governance, Department of Sustainable Development cdewindt@oas.org Phone: (202)

11 Michelle-Ann Williams Legal Specialist, Department of Sustainable Development Phone: (202) Fax: (202) Consultants : Judy Daniel President, Environmental Advisors Inc. (USA) judiani@aol.com Phone: (678) Fax: (678) Elysium Court Paradise Gardens Tacarigua Trinidad Phone: (868) (868) Fax: (868) paulhjam@yahoo.com 27. Albert John Insurance and Business Consultant pietacomm@hotmail.com Sasha Watson, Partner, WatsonWebley Advisors and Consultants Ltd. (Jamaica) swatson@watsonwebley.com Phone : (876) Fax: (876) Tomme Young International Consultant, International Research Institute for Sustainability (IRIS) tomme.young@googl .com Phone: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Heraldine Rock Building Waterfront, Castries Phone: (758) Fax: (758) Samantha George sj.george@hotmail.com Irvin Ferdinand iferdinand@eccourts.org 26. Paul Saunders Disaster Risk Management Consultant DHP Caribbean Ltd