Disaster preparedness key to regional sustainability — PM Phillips

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), the Honourable Mark Phillips reminded that resilience to natural disasters must be treated as a core function of governance, especially across the region.

Delivering the keynote address at the 14th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM14) Partnership Breakfast and Launch event at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre, he said that Guyana is honoured to host the December 7–12 event.

Prime Minister Phillips — who has oversight of the disaster management sector — stressed that Guyana remains committed to the safety of its people and Caribbean neighbours. He explained that the region is operating in an environment where climate volatility, economic shocks, infrastructure vulnerabilities, public health threats, supply chain disruptions, and evolving technological and security risks are increasingly testing governments’ capacity to respond.

“Resilience now sits at the centre of how a country is run and touches various aspects of our economy, infrastructure, security, and long‑term development. To govern well in this environment is to govern at the speed of risk, anticipating threats before they mature, investing ahead of need, coordinating across borders, and acting with resolve when the moment demands it.”

CDM14, the Prime Minister added, will provide the region with an opportunity to assess readiness, identify gaps, and strengthen systems and partnerships to protect Caribbean people and economies. He described the conference as a “checkpoint” to measure institutional preparedness and financing when the next shock arrives.

He noted that resilience is particularly important for Guyana as its economy expands, its energy sector grows, and much of its population and activity remain concentrated along the coast. “For us, resilience and development are intertwined because neither can be secured without the other.”

Prime Minister Phillips pointed to the Civil Defence Commission’s work in strengthening Guyana’s disaster preparedness framework, including emergency coordination, early warning systems, oil spill readiness, disaster risk legislation, regional response exercises, and new emergency facilities. He also underscored the importance of financing and partnership, noting that no country can secure resilience alone.

“Capital for resilience does its greatest work when it is well prepared in advance of disaster. Regional risk pooling and pre‑arranged finance allow a country to respond and recover quickly, sparing its people the long delays that follow when resources have to be assembled from scratch.”

The Prime Minister also welcomed the presence of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and CCRIF SPC, stressing that partnership also extends to shared standards, joint exercises, and knowledge exchange.

“When our agencies train and plan together, the region can respond as one when an event strikes a single member.”

Prime Minister Phillips said Guyana assumes its role as host of CDM14 with a clear understanding of its responsibility to the wider Caribbean community.

“Guyana does not approach this role lightly. Our growing importance within the region carries with it an obligation to contribute to our own preparedness and to the strength of the wider Caribbean alike. We intend to meet that obligation through the example of our institutions and the partnerships we are building, and by sharing openly what we learn along the way.”