ARD Chief Executive Officer Mr. Richardson Andrews made the invitation to Mr. Rodinald Soomer, Head of the OECS Macro Economic and Sectoral Policy Unit, during a meeting at the ARD on Wednesday (July 27). Mr. Soomer is the Technical Head of an OECS team visiting Grenada this week, requested by the Ministry of Finance to conduct a Macro Socio Economic Assessment of the damage done by Hurricane Emily, a Category One hurricane that struck Grenada on July 14.

Mr. Andrews, along with ARD Executive Directors Promil Paul, Jennifer Holder Dolly, David James and Robin Swaisland, met with Mr. Soomer to discuss ways to improve the damage assessment coordination and subsequent outflow of information.

“Given the complexities of post disaster assessments, the ARD wishes to play a more active role to support and strengthen the National Disaster Management Agency in its pre and post disaster responsibilities. The ARD could also strengthen and coordinate the damage assessment process to be undertaken by the various agencies and Government Ministries,” Mr. Andrews said.

The proposal for training would improve the local capacity in the Ministries and agencies. The three-day training course would encompass the proper methodology to carry out and document structural damages, as well as damages to vegetation, including landsides and soil erosion. It was also suggested that the course would examine case studies and review the assessments conducted post Emily. Participants for the course would be invited from Government Ministries, relevant statutory bodies, community based groups and non-governmental organisations.