Special Security Concerns of the Small Island States of the Caribbean – Natural and Man Made Disasters Elizabeth Riley Deputy Executive Director Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency Via videoconference April 22, 2013

2 Presentation Overview CDEMA Non-Traditional Security issues in Caribbean SIDS CARICOM Regional Crime and Security Strategy Actions Taken Way Forward

3 What is CDEMA? Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA - formally CDERA) is the regional inter-governmental Agency responsible for disaster management in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) CDERA established in 1991 by an Agreement of Heads of Government of CARICOM September 1, 2009 – official date of transition from CDERA to CDEMA 18 Participating States – Haiti and Suriname joined September 1, 2009

4 CDEMA Participating States

Special Security Considerations of Caribbean SIDS - Definitions Environmental Security – Those environmental problems or challenges which may create or add instability in a geopolitical region

Caribbean Context Environmental security non-traditional but not new in the Caribbean A component of the larger regional security challenge – lessons to be learnt Vulnerability of small states of the Caribbean Variations in magnitude and timeframe

Security areas addressed Instability caused by Natural systems Man made interventions Accidental Intentional

Instability potentially caused by natural systems Natural Hazards Caribbean region is very prone to natural (and man-made) hazards Implications of Climate variability & change Amplification of hydro meteorological hazards – intensity & extremes Amplification of vulnerability – economic, social and environmental Uncertainty …

Natural Hazards of Concern in the Caribbean Level 9

Instability – potentially through Man-made interventions Accidental Oil spills Hazard materials eg. Nuclear transshipments

Instability – Potentially through Man-made interventions Intentional Acts of Terror Biological weapons Chemical agents Use of explosive devices

EVENTS IN CDEMA PS Drought Aircraft crashes Landslides Volcanic Eruption Tropical Storms and Hurricanes Earthquake Fires Tsunami (scare)

13 Selected Hazard Impacts in the Caribbean TIMEPLACEDISASTERIMPACT 1988Jamaica Hurricane Gilbert 65% GDP countries Hurricane Hugo US$412 M 1999Dominica Hurricane Lenny 53% GDP 2004 Haiti & DR Flooding 270 deaths 2004Grenada Hurricane Ivan US$895 M 2004Jamaica Hurricane Ivan US$592 M 2005GuyanaFlooding 60% GDP 2010 Saint Lucia Hurricane Tomas 334M US$ Various sources: Collated by CDEMA

14 Hazard Impacts – Ivan 2004

CARICOM Crime and Security Strategy Adopted at the 24 th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, Haiti, February 2013 Goal – “To significantly improve citizen security by creating a safe, just and free Community and improving the economic viability of the Region”

CARICOM Crime and Security Strategy Natural Disasters Categorized as Tier 2 Substantial Threats: These are both likely and high-impact Strategic Goal 13: Improve Resilience to Natural and Man-Made Disasters Strategic Goal 14: Promote Resilient Critical Infrastructure Management and Safety at Major Events

Special Security Considerations of Caribbean SIDS - Characteristics Environmental security – transnational in character Several actors operating at national, regional and international levels Roles and functions to be managed in a comprehensive manner (Fergusson 2001)

Requirements to address these challenges … Multi agency approach Incorporation of non-traditional actors Additional capacity Complex information sharing and communication landscape

Implications for consequence management Issues examined in relation to disaster management Threat assessment Alert monitoring Strategic Approaches Harmonizing existing structures Application of technology to support decision making Management and organizational structures Link to the CDM

CDM in Context Global and Regional Agendas: Hyogo Framework for Action CARICOM Regional Programming Framework 2005 – 2015 Caribbean Single Market and Economy St. George’s Declaration of Principles for Environmental Sustainability (Organization of Eastern Caribbean States) 11/10/

Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) – A space for engagement 21 All phases Prevention, preparedness, recovery Mitigation & response All hazards & climate change Natural and Man-made Disaster risk reduction planning policy Culture of safety Strategic partner alliances eg. CTO CHA ACS Empowerment of partners lead dissemination and advocacy

CDM Coordination & Harmonization Council Education Sector Agriculture Sector Tourism Sector Civil Society Sector Finance Sector Health Sector CDM Database Sub-Committee CDM Monitoring, Evaluating & Reporting Sub-Committee CDM Governance Structure CDEMA Executive Director Council TAC

CDM Strategy Summary Goal Regional Sustainable Development enhanced through Comprehensive Disaster Management Purpose To strengthen regional, national and community level capacity for the mitigation, management and coordinated response to natural and anthropological hazards, and the effects of climate change 11/10/

CDM Strategy and Results Framework 11/10/

CDEMA Actions  Country Focused Programming  Deeper understanding of national context  Priority needs identification driving support  Creating an Enabling Environment for CDM Implementation  CDM Legislation, Policy, Strategy  Model Tools and Products 11/10/

CDEMA Actions  Operational Readiness  Regional Response Mechanism – Plan Development, review and exercising  Role of Sub-Regional Focal Points  Strategic Alliances and Partnerships  MOU’s with CARICOM IMPACS and Regional Security System  Capture value added of competitive niches  Governance  Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting 11/10/

Areas for consideration Overarching Context of Resilience is key Governance Arrangements to effect this Consolidation and strengthening of existing Mechanisms Engagement of non-traditional development actors – South-South Cooperation Inter-regional Partnerships (CEPREDENAC; CAPADRE; MERCOSUR) Hemispheric Humanitarian Initiatives Sharing of lessons