GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – For the next three days starting on Tuesday, 19th of May until 21st of May, Sint Maarten is hosting the 10th Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE EWS-X).
The Government of Sint Maarten is proud to host this important regional meeting. The country is an associated member of UNESCO and because of this a member of the regional Intergovernmental Coordination Group.
The opening of the conference will be carried out by a representative from the IOC-UNESCO (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission-United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization), the chair of the ICG/CARIBE EWS, and a welcome address by Government officials.
At the regional conference, the focus of attendees will be on how the various stakeholders are going to continue to strengthen tsunami risk reduction in the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions. Specific attention will be paid to recommendations on the way forward with regards to a Tsunami Service Model, a Tsunami Community Recognition Program and the complementary CARIBE WAVE 2016 regional tsunami exercise and evacuation maps, as well as a strategy for funding mechanisms.
The Office of Disaster Management and Fire Department that falls under the Ministry of General Affairs, has coordinated the local planning for the ICG/CARIBE EWS-X.
ICG/CARIBE EWS was established in 2005 as a subsidiary body of the IOC-UNESCO (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission-United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization) with the purpose of providing efficient assistance on tsunami risk reduction to Member States in the Caribbean region after the lessons learnt from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
The three-day conference is expected to be attended by more than 50 participants from across the Caribbean Region representing disaster and emergency management departments and agencies as well as from various regional and international organizations.
The conference is taking place at the Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort, Casino and Spa.
