Port of Spain, September 18, 2014.- The Association of Caribbean States (ACS), through the Directorate of Disaster Risk Reduction, will host the 22nd Meeting of the Special Committee for Disaster Risk Reduction on September 19, 2014 at the ACS Secretariat in Port of Spain.

The meeting scheduled for 9am will commence with remarks by the Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development, Senator the Honorable Dr. Bhoendradatt Tewarie as well as the Minister of Local Government, Senator the Honourable Marlene Coudray. Secretary General of the ACS, H.E. Alfonso Múnera and Director of Transport and Disaster Risk Reduction of the ACS, Mr. George Nicholson, will also comprise the panel of contributors for the opening ceremony. Ms. Thérèse Marianne-Pepin is also expected to give remarks in her capacity as Chair of the ACS Special Committee for Disaster Risk Reduction.

This Meeting will examine the Draft Agenda presented by the Secretariat, in conjunction with the Chairman, and will address other Procedural Matters for subsequent deliberation. The Directorate of Disaster Risk Reduction will also present its Report detailing its progress since the 21st Meeting of the Special Committee for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The meeting will feature presentations on Strengthening Hydrometeorological Operations and Services in the Caribbean Small Island Developing States and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) of Trinidad and Tobago will discuss the advances made on the project “Green Response.” Additionally, the “International (virtual) Diploma in Risk Management and Disaster Reduction will be examined followed by presentations on the projects “Caribbean Geospatial Information Infrastructure Strengthening” and “Caribbean Territorial Information Platform for Disaster Prevention.” Director George Nicholson will also present and discuss on the ACS Work Programme 2015-2016.

Representatives of the following organizations will also contribute to the meeting: CDEMA, CEPREDENAC, Caribbean Tsunami Information Centre (CTIC), UNISDR and OCHA.