Press Releases

Bridgetown, Barbados Monday October 11, 2010 – (CDEMA) – CDEMA with the financial support of the Australian Government continues to provide direct technical assistance to Haiti following the devastating earthquake earlier this year.

The Haiti Technical Assistance Programme (HTAP), a desk established at the CDEMA Coordinating Unit (CDEMA CU) seeks to build capacity at Haiti’s Civil Protection Directorate (CPD) in specific areas.

The HTAP activities will enhance the CPD’s ability to prepare for, and respond to disasters utilizing the principles of Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM).  In the few months since HTAP’s inception several ventures supporting CDEMA’s newest Participating State have been successfully launched.

Through HTAP workshops supported by regional and international partners, Haiti now has core staff trained in logistics and warehouse management, management of humanitarian relief supplies and emergency communications. The project has also provided CPD with software and support materials for implementation of all skills developed.

In August, the Programme hosted a logistics and warehouse management workshop targeting top level managerial staff and logistics personnel from the 10 major districts in Haiti. This was followed by a training session in the use of SUMA and LSS (Logistics Support System) in Partnership with PAHO/WHO in September. Over 30 persons now have enhanced technical skills through these capacity building exercises.

The recently concluded workshop on emergency telecommunications and other planned HTAP initiatives continue to highlight the importance and sound vision of the Enhanced CDM Framework which guides all the HTAP activities. These actions support the goal of the Programme which focuses on building capacity and improving disaster risk management coordination at the local and national levels while reducing losses from disasters. The project continues to share with the people of Haiti the steadfast commitment of the CDEMA CU and the Participating States to Haiti’s recovery and rehabilitation.


For more information please contact:
Dr. Virginia Clerveaux,
Senior Programme Officer (SPO),
Haiti Technical Assistance Project (HTAP),
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA),
Building #1, Manor Lodge Complex,
Lodge Hill, St. Michael, Barbados, W.I.
Tel:(246) 425-0386.
Fax: (246) 425-8854
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..