BVI Hosts Regional Emergency Experts for 17th
The Virgin Islands is hosting the 17th meeting of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency’s Technical Advisory Committee this week, bringing together national disaster management coordinators from 20 Caribbean states and regional hazard experts. CDEMA TAC chair Mrs. Sharleen DaBreo-Lettsome MBE, serving April 2026–April 2027, said the meeting will help strengthen regional resilience and adapt coordination to a rapidly evolving hazard landscape.
The Virgin Islands this week is hosting the 17th meeting of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency’s (CDEMA) Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), bringing together national disaster management coordinators from 20 Caribbean states and a range of regional hazard experts, according to the BVI Government.
The meeting is expected to strengthen the resilience of the Caribbean as a region, CDEMA TAC chair Mrs. DaBreo-Lettsome, who serves as chair for the April 2026–April 2027 term, told delegates that 'Caribbean peoples and states rely on each other for comprehensive disaster management support through CDEMA mechanisms such as the TAC.' She added that 'this approach of regional cooperation makes us more self-sufficient because we are in a position to better anticipate and respond to all kinds of risks.' Highlighting the urgency of updating plans, Mrs.
DaBreo-Lettsome noted that the hazard landscape is changing quickly and that improvements to regional coordination can preserve economies and save lives. 'We have a strong regional strategy and are moving in the right direction, but this year’s meeting will help make adjustments to account for a hazard landscape that is changing by the day,' she said.
Director of Disaster Management Jasen Penn said the gathering gives national disaster coordinators and key partners an opportunity to review and advise on CDEMA’s regional and local programmes, the regional Comprehensive Disaster Management plan, and emergency procedures. 'This is an opportunity for all the participating states to advocate for our individual needs, and to share what we have learned from recent incidents and hazard impacts,' Mr.
CDEMA’s 20 participating states at the TAC are Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Cayman Islands, Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Republic of Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, and the Virgin Islands.
The TAC is CDEMA’s technical and programmatic advisory arm, made up of the 20 national disaster coordinators plus representatives from specialist regional organisations. The committee provides recommendations on the agency’s work programme, strategies, and emergency procedures—work that directly affects local preparedness measures such as early warning systems, evacuation planning, emergency shelters, supply-chain contingency planning, and training for first responders.
For BVI residents, hosting the meeting means greater visibility for local needs and a chance to help shape regional assistance priorities. The Department of Disaster Management, which is accredited by the Emergency Management Accreditation Programme, said it will use insights from the TAC to refine local disaster planning, bolster community preparedness and ensure lessons from recent events are incorporated into future response efforts.
Scenes from the TAC session on April 14 in Road Town were shared by the Department of Information and Public Relations (photo credit: Franklin Skerritt), underscoring local participation in the regional discussions. The meeting runs through this week, and officials say delegates will leave with updated recommendations aimed at improving regional coordination and response as hazards evolve.
Primary source: BVI Government