Jamaica to host hemispheric disaster risk reduction meeting

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Jamaica will host the Seventh Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas in Montego Bay bringing together key stakeholders and actors involved in disaster risk reduction (DRR) from throughout North, South and Central America and the Caribbean.

It is a multisectorial participatory forum that reflects the commitments and concerns of governments (national, subnational and local), intergovernmental organisations, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, community organisations, scientific and academic institutions, the private sector, donors and the media.

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[Ronald Jackson, head of the Barbados-based Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency,] said that with the conference taking place in the region next year, it is a great opportunity for the participation of more Caribbean delegations “to not only partake of the information but allow your voices to be heard because if we are not hearing from the grassroots on these issues then our strategy won't be as effective as it can be.

“And, in this space, sometimes the Caribbean's voice is often missing so we have created a space for the Caribbean voice to be heard and we are hoping that many of our Caribbean countries and delegation would be able to join us there and to begin to help us with not only speaking out but owing these strategies and implement them not as stand-alone but as an integrated approach into their national development strategies and plans.”

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