St Kitts-Nevis introduce disaster management youth ambassadors

Last updated: November 10, 2017 at 00:18 am

A group of 30 young people from St Kitts and Nevis have become the first to be inducted as comprehensive disaster management (CDM) youth ambassadors.

A short service was held at the National Emergency Management (NEMA) conference room for the 12 boys and 18 girls.

The important of engaging young people has been a focus of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) in Barbados.

“Recognising the importance of integrating youth action and involvement into the disaster management framework, NEMA and the Nevis Disaster Management Department jumped at the opportunity to formalise and create the St. Kitts and Nevis CDM Youth Ambassadors,” said Rohan Isles, junior communications officer at NDMD.

“It is the hope of the coordinators that this group through its creed will seek to educate their peers, build resilience, reduce risk, strengthen efforts of preparedness and awareness, while ensuring that all sectors of the comprehensive disaster management cycle – that is mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation – are at the forefront of all concerned.”

Shajunee Gumbs was inducted as the president, while Tawanna Collins and Densa Tota serve respectively as the vice president and secretary.

Other executive members include Nadia Francis as assistant secretary, Terrance Francis as treasurer, and Howard Liburd as public relations officer.

Carl Herbert, national disaster coordinator at NEMA, said that the induction of the youth ambassadors “reminds us that many of our young people are prepared to be involved in meaningful activities.”