Participants at the 1st Meeting of National Emergency Coordinators, which was held in Barbados on 1 and 2 April 2014.
The OPCW and UK Government jointly organized a first meeting of National Emergency Coordinators for the creation of a regional chemical response capability in the Caribbean region, which was held in Bridgetown on 1 and 2 April. The meeting was supported by the CARICOM 1540 coordinator and CDEMA, with 18 representatives from 9 Caribbean States Parties* participating.
The aim of the meeting was to create a matrix of regional response capabilities and establish a plan of action to support CDEMA in the creation of a chemical response capability within the region.
In his opening remarks the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Drainage of Barbados, Mr. Edison Alleyne, recognized the importance of OPCW’s support in creating chemical emergency capacity in the countries involved. Her Excellency Mrs Victoria Dean, the British High Commissioner, reaffirmed the UK’s support to this Caribbean project under Article X of the Convention.
The meeting provided an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the OPCW, CARICOM and CDEMA in creating a chemical response capability as part of a wider CBRN response capacity. The meeting resulted in a shared understanding of the current state of the region’s response capabilities, some synergies that could be achieved, and a work plan to further the project in the coming year.
* Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago