Approximately 25 Public Officers are enrolled in the three-day Workshop, which began today (Monday) and concludes on Wednesday, November 30, at the Grenada Grand Beach Resort.

ARD Chief Executive Officer Richardson Andrews, in opening the Workshop, noted the importance of reliable basic post disaster data that is compiled “in a manner that is internationally acceptable.”

The ARD took the decision to invite the OECS to conduct the Workshop, following the passage of Hurricane Emily in July, when it became evident that Grenada did not have enough qualified persons to conduct proper post disaster assessments.

Mr. Andrews said the participants in the Workshop will be expected to conduct training in their respective Ministries to impart the knowledge they acquire to fellow Officers.

“Grenada needs an army of people to conduct assessments immediately after a storm or other disasters,” Mr. Andrews said, reminding participants: “you need to be willing to go out in your boots and get the numbers.”

Mr. Rodinald Soomer, Head of the OECS Macro Economic and Sectoral Policy Unit, said the invitation by the ARD to conduct the Workshop in Grenada marks the beginning of a series of workshops for all OECS Member States.

He said it is the intention of the OECS to build capacity to undertake post disaster assessments through a “sound structural process” that lends to accuracy and usefulness of data.

Participants at the Workshop include Public Officers from the Ministries of Finance and Planning; Agriculture, Lands, Forestry and Fisheries; Communication, Works and Transportation; Health and the Environment; Carriacou and Petit Martinique Affairs; Tourism and Culture; Social Development; Education and Labour, and the National Disaster Management Authority (NADMA).

The Workshop, which includes case study exercises, utilises the methodology designed by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) for Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS).