Antigua and Barbuda has signed a five-year national framework to strengthen its defences against hurricanes, drought and other disasters threatening the twin-island state.

The Country Work Programme was signed at a ceremony attended by senior government officials and regional partners. It sets out the country’s strategy for disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response and recovery across all sectors.

The programme was described as more than an operational plan by Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Executive Director Elizabeth Riley, who said it served as a roadmap for building resilience at the policy, institutional and operational levels.

“It reflects a clear national vision and commitment to protecting lives, livelihoods, infrastructure and development gains from the impacts of natural and man-induced hazards,” Riley told those gathered.

She noted that the framework aligns the country’s priorities with the Regional Comprehensive Disaster Management Strategy 2014 to 2030 and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 to 2030, linking national action to wider regional and global goals.

The programme was developed with funding provided by CDEMA under the Building Resilience of CARIFORUM States project, with support from the European Union. Riley extended appreciation to the European Union for its continued partnership in strengthening resilience across the region.

She also commended the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) and the range of stakeholders whose technical expertise had produced what she called a practical and forward-looking framework to guide disaster management for the next five years.

Minister of State within the Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation, the Honourable Kiz Johnson, attended the signing alongside Permanent Secretary Sarah Stuart and NODS Deputy Director Craig Cole. Also present were the European Union representative, Virginie Andre, and the CARIFORUM Director General, Alexis Downes-Amsterdam.

Cole said the twin-island state had long supported displaced persons, both at home and across the region, recalling that thousands had been received from Montserrat, Barbuda, Dominica and other neighbouring territories over the decades. He said the programme would help coordinate efforts, mobilise resources and monitor progress towards the country’s resilience objectives.

The ceremony also featured a presentation on a proposed purpose-built emergency shelter, part of a Cabinet mandate to move away from relying on schools and churches during disasters.

Architect Colin John Jenkins, of CJC Plus Associates Inc, outlined a leaf-inspired design with a capacity of around 500 persons. The proposed facility would be built on a flat site of about four acres to the west of the BBC relay station, near the Lightfoot community.

Jenkins said the shelter was designed to function as a small community rather than a single large space, with separate zones for families, the elderly, children and vulnerable persons, alongside medical, kitchen and administration areas.

He said the structure would be built to withstand a category five hurricane and to operate off-grid, with significant water storage capacity and natural ventilation to reduce reliance on electricity.

He added that the facility was intended to serve beyond Antigua and Barbuda, given the movement of residents from neighbouring islands seeking care and services not always available at home.