MEDIA RELEASE- MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY VISITS ODPM OPERATIONS CENTRES

Port of Spain: Minister of National Security the Honourable Fitzgerald Hinds M.P. visited two (2) Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) facilities and met with the executive of the ODPM on Tuesday August 10, 2021 to get a first-hand view of the organization’s operations and ongoing preparations for the 2021 Hurricane/Wet Season. At the meeting, Minister Hinds received a comprehensive overview of the role, functions and operations of the ODPM.

Matters discussed included human resources; finance and administration; policy and legislative proposals; community engagement and disaster mitigation efforts; as well as the activities and projects of individual ODPM Units.

The Minister commended ODPM staff on their collaborative approach when working with communities, local stakeholders and organizations, as well as regional and international partners, in order to continuously build Trinidad and Tobago’s resilience to disasters. Chief Executive Officer of the ODPM Major General (Retired) Rodney Smart highlighted the recent National Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Month (NDPPM) observed in May, which created greater public awareness of the various hazards our country faces.

Major General (Retired) Smart also noted the ODPM’s Volunteer Programme, comprising a pool of young persons trained to provide disaster management support to stakeholder agencies involved in Trinidad and Tobago’s national disaster response and recovery operations. He also outlined the ODPM’s partnership with corporate Trinidad and Tobago to reach and engage vulnerable groups in society, including disabled persons. Following the meeting at the ODPM’s Head Office in Orange Grove, Tacarigua, the Minister toured the ODPM’s Alternative National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in Mausica.

Minister Hinds assured Major General (Retired) Smart and his team that the Ministry of National Security continues to address the needs identified by the ODPM, as well as promote an integrated Whole-Of-Government Approach to disaster risk management including strengthening national capacities to reduce risk, and build community resilience to disasters.

PHOTOS AND CAPTIONS:

1. Minister of National Security the Honourable Fitzgerald Hinds M.P. (centre) is presented with an overview of the role, functions and operations of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM). Delivering the presentation is Planning and Development Officer of the ODPM Mr. Anwar Baksh. Also in the photo are Chief Executive Officer of the ODPM Major General (Retired) Rodney Smart (left) and Corporate Services Manager of the ODPM Mr. Chevalier Jackson (right).

2. Minister of National Security the Honourable Fitzgerald Hinds M.P. tours the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management’s (ODPM’s) Alternative National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in Mausica. Conducting the tour is Operations Manager of the ODPM Mr. Dennis Marcelle.

3. From left to right: Operations Manager of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) Mr. Dennis Marcelle; Chief Executive Officer of the ODPM Major General (Retired) Rodney Smart; Minister of National Security the Honourable Fitzgerald Hinds M.P.; Corporate Services Manager of the ODPM Mr. Chevalier Jackson; and Mitigation Manager of the ODPM Mr. Haley Anderson at the ODPM’s Alternative National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in Mausica on Tuesday August 10, 2021.

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