CDEMA - Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency

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CDEMA - Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency

CDEMA champions Comprehensive Disaster Management for a disaster resilient Caribbean. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, St.

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) is an institution of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) with responsibility for the coordination of emergency response and relief efforts to any of its 19 Participating States that request support for a disaster event. CDEMA also champions the Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) approach for a disaster resilient Caribbean. CDM addresses

all hazards, all phases of the disaster management continuum (mitigation, prevention, preparedness, response and recovery) and all sectors of society. Established since 1991, CDEMA is presently comprised of the following Participating States:
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Republic of Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands and the Virgin Islands.

05/08/2026

📢 Vacancy Announcement: Executive Assistant

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) invites applications for the position of Executive Assistant.

Join us in supporting a safer and more resilient Caribbean.

04/08/2026

Building resilience starts at the community level.

Congratulations to the 23 graduates of Belize’s second Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) cohort!

Representing the villages of San Antonio and Santa Cruz in Orange Walk District, these dedicated volunteers successfully completed intensive training in disaster preparedness, basic first aid, fire safety, light search and rescue, emergency communications, damage assessment, and community response coordination. Equipped with new skills and personal emergency response kits, they are now better prepared to support their families, neighbours, and first responders before, during, and after emergencies. Emergency response equipment was also presented to the San Antonio and Santa Cruz Village Councils to strengthen community response capacity.

The graduation ceremony was attended by Hon. Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service and Disaster Risk Management; Rolando Zetina, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Public Service, Governance and Disaster Risk Management; Captain Daniel Mendez, NEMO National Emergency Coordinator; Andria Grosvenor, Programme Development and Business Development Manager (PBDM), CDEMA; and Chris Chin, Technical Consultant, BRICS Project. The occasion also provided an opportunity to recognize the Community Health Workers who successfully completed the CERT training facilitated by NEMO.

The CERT programme was implemented by Belize’s National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) with technical support from CDEMA through the Building the Resilience of CARIFORUM States to Disaster Risks and Climate Change Impacts (BRICS) Programme. The initiative is funded by the European Union under the 11th European Development Fund, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening disaster resilience and community preparedness across Belize and the wider Caribbean.

Congratulations to all graduates, facilitators, village councils, and partners for advancing safer and more resilient communities.

24/07/2026

During the Fifty-First (51st) Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, CDEMA Executive Director Elizabeth Riley and Dr. Cletus Bertin, Executive Director of the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations in advancing disaster resilience across the Caribbean.

The Agreement provides a framework for enhanced collaboration in preparedness, response, recovery, capacity development and knowledge sharing, recognizing the critical role of the energy sector in supporting resilient communities and effective disaster management.

20/07/2026

Official Statement | Guyana 🇬🇾

CDEMA extends its deepest sympathies to the Government and people of Guyana following the tragic sinking of the MV Barima Ferry. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected and the emergency responders supporting ongoing response efforts.

📰 Please see the official press release for more information.

16/07/2026

🎥 Day 1 | Community Resilience Regional Conference 2026

On the sidelines of the Community Resilience Regional Conference in Barbados, Dr. Evangeline Inniss-Springer, Director of the Disaster Risk Reduction Centre (DRRC), shares her perspective on why resilience starts with each of us.

In this interview, Dr. Inniss-Springer highlights the importance of taking personal responsibility for preparedness, staying informed, building strong community connections, and developing the knowledge and skills needed to better withstand and recover from hazards.

Because stronger individuals help build stronger communities and together, we create a more resilient Caribbean. 🌍🤝

16/07/2026

🎥 Day 1 Recap | Community Resilience Regional Conference 2026

In this interview, Tamara Lovell, Community Resilience Specialist at CDEMA, highlights the value of the conference in bringing together representatives from CDEMA Participating States, National Disaster Offices, government agencies, the private sector, and community practitioners to strengthen collaboration and advance resilience across the Caribbean.

Building on the success of last year’s conference, this year’s event continues to provide a platform for sharing experiences, exchanging knowledge, and identifying practical solutions that strengthen resilience where it matters most.

As Ms. Lovell notes, people are at the centre of everything we do. Strengthening community resilience begins with empowering communities, fostering partnerships, and ensuring that those working closest to the people are equipped to support sustainable resilience across the region. 🌍🤝

16/07/2026

CDEMA Executive Director Ms. Elizabeth Riley challenged participants to rethink what community resilience truly means.

In her featured address at the Community Resilience Regional Conference, she emphasized that resilience must be inclusive, sustainable, and rooted in shared responsibility. Building resilient communities is not simply about emergency response or strengthening institutions, it is about empowering people, fostering partnerships, remaining connected, and ensuring that no one is left behind.

Ms. Riley highlighted that every sector, organisation, and individual has a role to play in advancing resilience. By supporting one another, investing in our communities, and working together before, during, and after disasters, we can build a stronger, safer, and more resilient Caribbean for generations to come. 🌴🤝🌍

15/07/2026

Day 1 | Community Resilience Regional Conference 🇧🇧

The Community Resilience Regional Conference is being held 15–17 July 2026 at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Conference Centre in Barbados under the theme, “Advancing Sustainable Community Resilience Through Shared Responsibility.”

Today marked Day 1, with CDEMA Executive Director, Ms. Elizabeth Riley, delivering the featured address. The conference brings together disaster management professionals, government agencies, community leaders, youth representatives, and regional partners to explore practical approaches to strengthening community resilience through collaboration, preparedness, and inclusive action.

15/07/2026

Closing Ceremony Marks the Successful Conclusion of CDRU Training and Exercise 2026 in Belize 🇧🇿

The National CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU) Training and Exercise 2026 officially concluded with a Closing Ceremony held on June 22, 2026, celebrating the successful completion of the 2026 CDEMA CDRU Training Programme and recognizing the commitment of participants to strengthening regional disaster response capabilities.

The ceremony commenced with welcome remarks from Mr. Daniel Mendez, Director of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), Belize. Remarks were also delivered by Mr. Rasheed Pinder, Programme Officer – Preparedness and Response, CDEMA; Mr. Tony Spence, World Food Programme (WFP); Rear Admiral Errington Shurland, Executive Director of the Regional Security System (RSS); and Lt. Col. Kester Craig, Deputy Executive Director of CDEMA, each highlighting the importance of regional collaboration, interoperability, and sustained investment in disaster preparedness.

The keynote address was delivered by the Hon. Henry Usher, Minister of Public Service and Disaster Risk Management, Belize, who commended the participants, facilitators, and partner agencies for their dedication to enhancing emergency response capabilities and strengthening resilience across the Caribbean. Participants were presented with certificates in recognition of their successful completion of the training programme, celebrating the knowledge, skills, and operational experience gained throughout the exercise.

The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Captain Glenroy Fermin, who expressed appreciation to the Government of Belize, partner agencies, facilitators, participants, and all stakeholders whose collaboration contributed to the successful ex*****on of the 2026 CDRU Training Programme and Exercise.

Funded by: The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID)

15/07/2026

The National CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU) Training and Exercise 2026 in Belize marked the final activity of the 2026 CDEMA CDRU Training Programme, culminating in a functional field exercise held in the Valley of Peace community from June 19–20, 2026.

Deployed to the Valley of Peace, participants established staging areas and operational systems to receive, sort, log, process, and distribute relief supplies in a simulated emergency response environment.

The exercise was observed during a high-level visit by CDEMA Deputy Executive Director, Lt. Col. Kester Craig, alongside Rear Admiral Errington Shurland, Executive Director of the Regional Security System (RSS). Their visit underscored the importance of regional coordination, operational readiness, and continued investment in strengthening disaster response capabilities across the Caribbean.

The exercise also incorporated a Safer Building component, with teams supporting improvements to the infrastructure of the San Oscar Romero Roman Catholic School, including painting and roof upgrades to enhance the learning environment for students and the wider community.

As part of the community engagement efforts, CDEMA, NEMO, RSS, and the National Belize CDRU donated medical supplies and stationery items to support the Valley of Peace community, including the secondary school, primary school, preschool, and health centre. The donation was received by community representatives, including Village Chairman Juan Arias, School Principal Johnny Valencia, and Health Centre Caretaker Darlene Scott.

Through training, simulation, community partnership, and infrastructure support, the CDRU Training and Exercise 2026 reinforced the importance of regional collaboration and readiness to respond effectively to disasters across the Caribbean.

Address

Resilience Way
St. Michael

Telephone

1 246 4344880

Website

http://www.cdema.org/

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