The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), in collaboration with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), has launched a critical five-day Equipment Installation and Training of Trainers (ToT) programme. The training, which began yesterday, Monday, June 15, is taking place at the Police Training School in Old Montrose. This initiative marks a significant milestone in the regional upgrade of the National Disaster Offices’ (NDOs) High-Frequency (HF) Communications Project, funded by the CDEMA BRICS Programme.
The five-day programme focuses on the physical installation of advanced HF communication equipment and the intensive training of designated personnel. These participants will become certified trainers within the national emergency management framework, thereby ensuring sustainable, long-term technical expertise across local response agencies.
Climate-induced shocks and sudden-onset hazards continue to challenge regional socio-economic development. Hence, robust independent emergency telecommunications networks remain vital. High-frequency radio systems form the backbone of disaster response, providing a resilient communication lifeline when conventional cellular networks and internet infrastructure fail during a crisis.
Key Objectives of the Initiative:
- Infrastructure Modernization: Deploying state-of-the-art HF communication hardware to ensure continuous operational readiness.
- Capacity Building: Establishing a cadre of local trainers to strengthen technical proficiency across the islands’ disaster-management network.
- Enhanced Last-Mile Resilience: Strengthening communication between NEMO and regional stakeholders, including CDEMA, Participating States, Meteorological offices, and remote communities across St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
According to NEMO’s Acting Director, “A resilient emergency communications network is the foundation of any efficient humanitarian response architecture. By equipping our key stakeholders with both the physical tools and the training expertise that began on Monday, we are significantly reducing communication vulnerabilities and ensuring that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is prepared to maintain coordination and communication during severe disruptions.”
Key stakeholder organisation and disaster response partners have nominated dedicated representatives to attend the training, underscoring a shared inter-agency commitment to national resilience. This collaborative effort marks a major step towards strengthening the emergency telecommunications network across the CDEMA Participating States.
To conclude the week of training, an official closing ceremony and a demonstration of the new equipment will be held on Friday, 19 June 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the Police Training School in Old Montrose.