CEO of the Dominica Air and Seaport Authority (DASPA), Benoit Bardouille, has called for a greater level of disaster preparedness in Dominica, considering the island’s high level of vulnerability to natural disasters.
At a public and private sector workshop on disaster management, hosted by Tropical Shipping, on Thursday morning, he remarked that there should be no complacency in terms of preparedness.
“I’m told, on the Vulnerability Index, that we are one of the highest, in terms of things that we can expect to happen in Dominica, and so, there should be no complacency, in terms of our approach to disaster preparedness, and being ready for an eventuality,” he said.
A vulnerability index is a measure of the exposure of a population to some hazard, using indicators from physical sciences social, medical, and psychological variables to evaluate potential complications for disaster planning.
Bardouille commented that citizens must not wait until the Hurricane Season to be alert and ready.
He encouraged the regular implementation of drills and exercises, “so that when we are called upon to undertake the actual activity, it will become a norm for us.”
He condemned the level of procrastination in Dominica, in terms of disaster preparedness, stating that the topic must be given greater priority, to ensure that people are clear on protocol.
“But, sometimes, we wait, and we wait, and we procrastinate, and we leave things for a longer period, and when it does happen, then we’re not sure what to do,” he articulated. “We want to make sure we’re very clear in terms of what we do.”
Bardouille underscored the consequences of unpreparedness, not only to individuals, but to institutions as well.
“At the end of the day, if you don’t perform, and if you don’t do the things that you’re supposed to do, it will become a crisis—not only for you, but for a lot of persons, and for a lot of institutions. And then the government may have to bear the burden for your unpreparedness in the system,” he concluded.
The workshop, hosted at the Fort Young Hotel, was observed under the theme: “Building Risk-Aware and Resilient Communities.”
they talking about earthquake,fire, first aid in general no training for the workers and its just talk .you all will fool people sometimes but I’m hoping they will open there eye’s before it’s too late there’s a god .
I’m a port worker for over eighteen years now I have never seen a simulation exercise for nothing and not even a good fire extinguisher you can find around the compounds I thank you .LMAO…..
Benoit I suspect mere Ram Goat hypocritical sweet sounding nothing words. Preparedness in what respect! If a man build a house upon the sand, when the sea gets rough the foundation; the sandy foundation will wash away; hence the waves will demolish the building.
Built on a solid foundation, chances are the building will prevail on solid ground! Who should have the responsibility of preparedness? You cannot say anything except the accept preparedness, is the responsibility of your government; infrastructures such hospitals must be properly equip with modern medical instruments, and modern medicine.
Emergency rooms at all hospitals must be prepared to handle emergencies; food, and water is a priority, and the government should have such none perishable food to distribute in such emergencies. Rather than spending millions of taxpayers money to buy votes, a very large warehouse should be built, and stock with the necessities required to sustain life during such emergencies. Other…
Other than that people can only secure their doors and windows from the raving hurricane winds. Certainly people can be advised to stock none-perishable food in case there is something very disastrous. Water cisterns should be encouraged since we are aware that each year the inevitable comes along, since Erika some people does not have pipe bourn water!
Now with the vast poverty in the country ninety (90%) of Dominicans cannot afford to build a water cistern even to save their life is they wish!
Talk and more talk just like the fake Disaster Specialist Cecil Shillingford after all those years on Q95 belching out that this government has no idea what disaster management is about itt is not even a priority on their agenda. Now that they have bought him over his tune change the government is on track and Dominica is more prepared now than it has ever been before. What is his rational for saying so? oh Dominicans know what to expect having experienced Erika. This is so ludicrous that it is not funny. this guy acts as if he did so much when he was at the head yet there is absolutely nothing he can show for it. If he was so brilliant then his village where he is from and where he is or was chairman of the village council would have a model disaster committee for others to follow but instead they do not even have a functioning disaster committee. All those guys do is talk and more talk.
Pure talk , why don’t you facilitate bringing in more Goods and material for hurricane season.
When container come it hostage ,but you all want development. In fact during hurricane season ,all materials should come in with little duty or duty free . Those gate keepers say one thing and do the other.
Better prepare for the huge tidal waves that coming this hurricane season.
Only one set of materials passing for free , the red dot ones.
Reduce duty on imported food.
Reduce duty on medicine
Reduce duty on stove,Windows. Roofing ,etc. the people can buy it cheaper.
When you have done that ,then you can talk on preparing for hurricane. Action speak louder than words.
These people should stop all these lip service and start to do some thing for the children of tomorrow, according to the behaviour of these executives in D/ca Owen Authar’s comments is very true he said and I quote “the level of education in D/ca is much lower than that of the rest of the Caribbean and that’s a fact I lend support to that note: he wasn’t referring to a Degree, a Diploma or even a Dr. rate
I have to assume that the Marigot hospital is not a part of disaster preparedness for the Melville Hall (Douglas-Charles) airport.
The hurricane season is just that, seasonal. The airport functions everyday of the year and in emergency cases the first hour is the most critical.
I wonder whether the Caribbean aviation authority is aware of this situation.
Garcon, you do not have a functioning hospital near the island’s main airport. Need I say more?
Have we not heard all this before / We talk and talk until we are blue in the face and no real action. What have you done to ensure resiliency. Who must give Disaster Management priority ,when you have an office understaffed? Can we for one moment stop talking and do some reflection? Listen to still small voice , because I suspect we talk so much we fail to listen to what is obvious. What about articulating what needs to be done in your Department and take te necessary measures to ensure it is done.
and you supporting no hospital by yo main airport
great call .is melvillehall prepared given the medical fascility is closed at marigot?
he a expert on disaster management too. hmmmmm