By Chantalé Fletcher
THERE is a national emergency response plan in place for the natural disasters.
This according to Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds in answer to an Urgent Question by Opposition Senator Wade Mark in the Senate on Wednesday.
Mark questioned Hinds on Trinidad and Tobago’s level of preparedness for major natural disasters in a four-part question.
Hinds responded that, “An independent comprehensive Disaster Management audit of T&T was completed in October 2020 by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management agency, Sedema in accordance with the international Sendai framework for disaster risk, reduction 2015 to 2030.
“The objective of the audit was to assess Trinidad and Tobago’s disaster management capacity, and mitigation preparedness response.”
In addition, Hinds said that it was determined that the country’s level of preparedness is performing satisfactorily.
The minister added that there is a national emergency response plan.
Hinds further explained that, “The national response framework is subject to periodic review, the last of which occurred in 2016. The National Response Framework (NFR) is currently being reviewed and is expected to be finalized by the end of 2021.”
Moreover, he stated that the national Earthquake plan has already been revised and is expected to be completed by mid-2021.
“The national Tsunami protocol and plan is currently being revised following the recent international Tsunami exercise, Caribe wave 21 and that was conducted on March 11, 2021,” the minister said.
Hinds said, “Following Cabinet’s considerations and approval of the revised NRF, tabling of the document in parliament would be duly considered.”
The security minister said a copy of the comprehensive report will be available to the senate, once approved by Cabinet.
Hinds said, “The entirety of my response to this four-pronged question demonstrated that the government understands the critical nature of this. I have outlined clearly the action and actions we have taken, and I have stated several times in my response the timelines that are to be operated by the government in this respect.”
