Minister of Social and Urban Transformation, Hon. Rawdon Turner, and Director of the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS), Sherrod James, will travel to Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday to participate in the Council of Ministers Meeting of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).

The high-level meeting will bring together ministers responsible for disaster risk management from across the Caribbean to discuss regional priorities and make critical policy decisions aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness, response capabilities, and resilience throughout the region.

As CDEMA’s principal policy-making body, the Council of Ministers considers recommendations submitted by the agency’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), which comprises directors and heads of national disaster management offices from participating member states.

Earlier this year, the Technical Advisory Committee convened in the British Virgin Islands, where members examined emerging challenges facing the region’s disaster management systems and developed strategic recommendations to improve coordination and resilience. These recommendations will now be reviewed and deliberated upon by ministers during the Trinidad and Tobago meeting.

Key discussions are expected to focus on enhancing regional cooperation, strengthening emergency response mechanisms, improving disaster risk reduction strategies, and advancing policies that better equip Caribbean states to prepare for and respond to natural hazards and other emergencies.

Antigua and Barbuda’s participation in the meeting reflects the government’s continued commitment to regional solidarity and proactive disaster management, recognizing that collaboration remains essential in safeguarding lives, protecting livelihoods, and strengthening the resilience of communities and critical infrastructure across the Caribbean.