The National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) has begun consulting with key stakeholders on a project to install emergency sirens in strategic locations around the island as an expansion to the official notification system the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP).
Local Consultant on the project Refica Attwood held the first of a series of consultations yesterday (Wednesday) morning at the NODS headquarters with representatives from the police and defence forces, the fire department, telecoms providers and the department of gender affairs.
Attwood says the consultations will gather knowledge from the technical and telecoms sector in determining how the sirens will work once erected. Matters being discussed include measures to address possible risks, the creation of a training plan for all stakeholders involved and a draft standard operating procedure.
The establishment of the sirens follows the introduction of radio and television interrupters in several media houses namely ABS Radio and Television, Observer Radio, Zoom Radio and Radio Lighthouse.
Director of NODS Sherrod James says meeting with the stakeholders is important. “You representing your agencies have very vital input for us in determining how this is rolled out, to look at where we need to be, what type of sirens, how we interact and how do we get public participation on a whole in this process”, said James.
A second consultation will take place next week, Wednesday June 19, with another group of individuals. The consultative process, which is the first phase of the project, should be completed by October. The consultations are funded by the European Development Fund (EDF) project entitled “Building the resilience of the CARIFORUM states to Disaster Risks and Climage Change Impacts” (BRICS), through support from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). –
