Belize delegation attends 13th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management

BELMOPAN, 2 December 2024 - The 13th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM13), themed “Road to Resilience - Checkpoint 2024: Levelling Up for a Dynamic Future,” is taking place from December 2-6, 2024, at the Marriott Hotel in St. Kitts and Nevis. As the first CDM event hosted in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States region, CDM 13 brings together regional and international experts, policymakers, and practitioners to collaborate and explore innovative strategies for disaster management and resilience-building in the Caribbean.

Mr. Daniel Mendez, National Emergency Coordinator for the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), leads the Belize delegation, which includes Ms. Brenda Briceño, Humanitarian Officer, NEMO; Mr. Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist, National Meteorological (MET) Service of Belize; Ms. Melony Dawson, Manager, City Emergency Management Organization (CEMO); Ms. Jenna Hoare, Emergency Officer, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Belize; Mr. Olusola Oladeji, Health and Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Belize; Mr. Ryan Zuniga, Nature, Climate, Energy Program Lead, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Belize; Mr. Chad Bowman, Technical Analyst, Climate Action, UNDP Belize; Mr. Zain Dueheney, Programme Coordinator for the Post-Graduate Diploma at Galen University and Regional Coordinator, Avoidable Deaths Network; and Ms. Beyonce Villafranco, Student, Galen University.

The conference program includes keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, offering the Belize delegation valuable platforms to engage in critical discussions and capacity-building sessions. This reinforces Belize’s dedication to advancing regional disaster risk reduction, climate action, resilience-building, and sharing best practices to mitigate the impacts of natural hazards.

NEMO and UNICEF will present under the themed session, “Road to Resilience: Child-Centered Shock Responsive Systems from Theory to Action in Belize,” which highlights the importance of the Protocol for Integrated Protection for Children and Adolescents during Disasters. Meanwhile, the National MET Service will attend sessions on the Early Warning for All (EW4ALL) program. In addition to these contributions, the Belize delegation will also engage in strategic meetings with key officials from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and other organizations, exploring avenues for technical and financial support to bolster disaster resilience efforts in Belize.

Hon. Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management, emphasizes:

“Belize stands proudly as a Small Island Developing State that embraces the shared responsibility of strengthening resilience. We are no strangers to the destructive power of natural hazards—hurricanes, floods, and droughts have tested our resolve time and again. Yet, with every challenge, we have reaffirmed our commitment to building back stronger and smarter. However, our fight for resilience is not ours alone. The impacts of climate change know no borders, and this conference reminds us that comprehensive disaster management requires collective effort. Regional solidarity and global cooperation are the cornerstones of lasting resilience. This is why Belize strongly supports the CDM Strategy and its vision of safer, sustainable communities.”

On behalf of the Government of Belize, Hon. Andre Perez and the Belize delegation extend their gratitude to CDEMA for the invitation and for organizing the CDM conference series. These gatherings continue to prioritize collaboration and innovation, building a resilient future as the region faces increasing risks from climate change and other global challenges.

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