Press Statement

One disaster district is boasting the first ever community emergency response command centre in Antigua and Barbuda to better provide the services required for the management of disasters at the community level.

The facility, located on Hawkins Drive in Cassada Gardens in the St. John’s Rural East District, was opened Thursday evening during a ceremony.

The structure is a 20-foot container that has been retrofitted with bathroom facilities and has a small office space, equipped with cameras for security purposes.

District Disaster Coordinator (DDC) for St. John’s Rural East John Dunnah leads a team of 20 volunteers who, with the support of several individuals and businesses in the district, worked tirelessly to have the command centre completed. Dunnah is confident the structure will be able to withstand hurricane-force winds due to the effort put in to strengthen its base. He is hoping emergency command centres can be erected in other districts.

Parliamentary Representative for St. John’s Rural East Hon. Maria Browne was grateful for the efforts of businesses and individuals who supported the initiative.

Former Director of the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) Philmore Mullin was instrumental in providing the container for the centre before retiring. He says such facilities allow for ease of co-ordination at the district level thus ensuring that the recovery process takes place quickly. NODS Director Sherrod James says communities need to be more resilient by working together.

The St. John’s Rural East Emergency Command Centre was blessed by Pastor Steven Andrew of the St. John’s Pentecostal House of Restoration.