WORKING GROUP ON NATURAL DISASTERS

Kingston, April 28-30, 1997

Recommendations

In accordance with agreement 1/95 of the I Meeting of the Ministerial Council whereby an agreement was reached that the second priority of the Working Programme of the ACS would be “to perform the priority tasks relating to natural and environmental disasters which affect Member Countries of the ACS “ and pursuant to agreement 3/96 of the second meeting of the Council of Ministers held in Havana, Cuba from December 12-13, 1996 where a Working Group was created to follow-up specifically the subject of natural and environmental disasters and to propose actions and policies to confront them, and with this proposal made the following recommendations.

I. Strategy for cooperation in the Caribbean Basin

The Working Group recommends that:

*            the ACS request that each country designate a representative of their country as a focal point for forming the Working Group of the ACS on natural disasters. This representative must have the experience and the ability to make decisions concerning disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response.

*            the structure of the Working Group comprise a Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Rapporteur.  

*            the Special Committee on the Protection and Conservation of the Environment and  Caribbean Sea approve the terms of reference of the Working Group presented in Annex I.

*           The Secretariat of the ACS invite as observers the regional and international agencies that work specifically in the area of disasters so that they can give advice to the Working Group.

II.   Mobilization of resources

The Working Group recommends that:

*            the ACS Secretariat take the necessary measures to request from Member Countries, Regional and International agencies, the formulation of regional projects that are for the consideration of  the Working Group and presented to funding sources.

*           the ACS Secretariat take the necessary measures to request from Member Countries, Regional and International agencies, the formulation of regional projects related to the reduction of disasters in the Caribbean Basin that are likely to be approved by the Working Group and presented to the ACS Special Fund for financing.

*           the ACS Secretariat initiate the compilation of the necessary information to create the data bases outlined in its work programme.

III.             Outline of requests from the Ministerial Council to the UN

With respect to Resolution 44/132 of the United Nations General Assembly in which the decade 1990-1999 was declared the International Decade for the Reduction of Natural Disasters and the adoption of the Strategy and the Plan of Action for a Safer World, the working group recommends that:

*            the Chairman of the Ministerial Council use the terms of reference outlined in Annex II to request the Secretary General of the United Nations to give priority attention to the Caribbean Basin in its programmes of assistance and help afforded to areas at high risk from natural disasters.

IV.             Further recommendations

The working group recommends that:

*             countries take the necessary steps to integrate vulnerability reduction considerations in their plans for economic and social development as an absolute necessity for guaranteeing sustainable development.

*           the ACS promote the use of the Internet as an instrument for the communication, exchange and dissemination of information. 

 Annex I

Working Group on Natural Disasters

Terms of Reference

Introduction

In accordance with agreement 1/95 of the I Meeting of the Ministerial Council whereby an  agreement was reached that the second priority of the Working Programme of the ACS would be “to perform the priority tasks relating to natural and environmental disasters which affect Member Countries of the ACS “ and pursuant to agreement 3/96 of the second meeting of the Council of Ministers held in Havana, Cuba from December 12-13, 1996 where a Working Group was created to follow-up specifically the subject of natural and environmental disasters and to propose actions and policies to confront them, the Working Group in natural disasters agreed to submit for the consideration of the Special Committee for the Protection and Conservation of the Environment and the Caribbean Sea the following proposal:

OBJECTIVES

-            to coordinate the efforts and available resources of the international community, particularly those of the Member States of the ACS, as well as the regional mechanisms for the prevention and mitigation of disasters through the exchange of information, technology, cooperation and technical assistance in the case of disasters in the countries concerned;

-            to facilitate dialogue and interregional cooperation in disaster management;

-            to promote the incorporation of consideration of risk in the policy deliberations of the ACS.

STRUCTURE

Chairman

Vice-Chairman appointed by the Member Countries 

Rapporteur

COMPOSITION

The Group will consist of  a representative who is a specialist in the prevention and mitigation of disasters, to be appointed by the government of each Member and Associate Member Country of the ACS;

The regional and international agencies or other organisms will form part of the group as consultative organisms.

Thematic working groups will be formed.

FUNCTIONS

*to function as a consultative organism of the Ministerial Council Ministers of the ACS with respect to policies and technical and operational decisions concerning the execution and implementation of programmes, projects and other activities relating to disasters;

*to coordinate with specific counterparts in Member countries for the implementation and development of policies as well as technical and operational decisions adopted by the Ministerial   Council.

*to prepare recommendations to be approved by the joint committees.

WORKING PROGRAMME

1.Identify regional priorities.

2.Identify the vulnerable sectors and areas in countries.

3.Create databases of mechanisms, programmes, projects and existing activities of a multinational nature.

4.Create regional and national database centres on disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, research and response.

5.Create a database of current legislation relating to disasters and national institutions which can offer emergency help to third countries in the region.

6.Collect and approve in the first instance multinational projects for disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness for these events within the framework of the ACS.

7.Promote the dissemination of information and public education and preventative awareness programmes related to natural disasters.