Minister of State in the Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation Kiz Johnson has highlighted the country’s gains under the European Union-funded disaster resilience programme, pointing to flood mitigation works, a community disaster command centre, and plans to establish Antigua and Barbuda as a regional search and rescue training hub.

Johnson delivered opening remarks Thursday at the 7th Programme Steering Committee Meeting of the Building Resilience of the CARIFORUM States to Disaster Risks and Climate Change Impacts (BRICS) Programme, held in Antigua under the 11th European Development Fund Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme.

She told attendees that Antigua and Barbuda has benefited significantly from the programme and cited a 2020 flooding event as one illustration of its direct impact.

“In one area alone, a whopping 200 households were affected by excessive rainfall, which resulted in flooding drains and homes,” Minister Johnson said.

Funding secured through the BRICS Programme was used to expand a bridge in the affected community, reducing the flood risk to residents.
Minister Johnson said the island now also has its first community-level direct disaster command centre, which she described as improving coordination and communication at the local level.

She added that the government has advanced plans to replicate the initiative across the island.

Looking ahead, Johnson outlined proposals that would see Antigua and Barbuda serve as an anchor for sub-regional disaster preparedness.

She said work is moving forward on a multi-purpose shelter facility, a sub-regional warehouse, and a high-angle rescue tower training facility.
“We are excited about that,” she said, noting that Antigua and Barbuda serves as the focal point for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) sub-region under the programme.

Johnson connected the programme’s continued relevance to the pattern of intensifying natural hazards affecting Caribbean communities.

She also underscored the government’s commitment to working alongside CDEMA as it builds partnerships across the region.

“We continue to work closely with CDEMA as it cements partnership with various organisations for the benefit of its members and to continue building resilience throughout our entire region,” the minister said.