Rachel Leuck, Minister KIz Johnson and Kate Dischino

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Minister of State in the Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation, Hon. Kiz Johnson, has pledged her full support to strengthening Antigua and Barbuda’s disaster preparedness efforts following a meeting with senior representatives of Global Support and Development (GSD).

Global Support and Development (GSD) is a humanitarian nonprofit organization whose vision is to ensure that every community is able to recover from disaster.

The discussions brought together GSD’s Caribbean Partnerships Manager, Rachel Leuck, and Partnerships Director, Kate Deschino, who outlined their organization’s work throughout the Caribbean and their growing relationship with Antigua and Barbuda.

During the meeting, the minister acknowledged that while she is relatively new to the portfolio, she has quickly gained an appreciation for the critical work being undertaken by the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS).

“I can tell that our team has very strong competency, so I’m here to give you all the support you need and to understand your needs and how this fits into our overall plan of where we’re going,” Johnson said.

The GSD representatives praised Antigua and Barbuda’s emergency management leadership and highlighted the country’s significant role as a sub-regional hub for disaster response within the OECS. They also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the country’s disaster preparedness priorities through a long-term partnership with NODS.

The meeting also focused on increasing public awareness about disaster preparedness. Minister Johnson noted that many people do not fully understand the breadth of NODS’ responsibilities or the importance of building partnerships before a crisis occurs.

The minister pointed to the recent earthquake felt across Antigua and Barbuda as a reminder that emergencies can happen at any time and stressed the need to better educate the public about preparedness and resilience.

GSD officials encouraged the continuation of community engagement and preparedness campaigns, emphasizing that disaster management is not only about response after an event but also about fostering everyday awareness and readiness among citizens.

The meeting concluded with both sides expressing optimism about expanding their collaboration and working together to strengthen Antigua and Barbuda’s ability to prepare for and respond to future emergencies.