Message from the LoGB

With today (1 June 2006) being the first day of the 2006 hurricane season, I take this opportunity to address the nation on the importance of being sensitive to and proactive in preparing on a national as well as personal level.

Towards this end, this administration and its National Hurricane Committee have been busy since the end of last season. We've made changes to the National Hurricane Plan, improved public shelters, and worked on our infrastructure.

The National Hurricane Plan has been evolving and now further defines and delineates the roles of key individuals and entities, such as the Governor, Cabinet and the NHC.

The revision ensures that the responsibilities of all sub-committees reflect their actual functions; for ease of use, all subcommittee plans have been rewritten, using the same format. We're also proud that a group of new and upcoming civil servants have accepted subcommittee chairmanships.

There are six new NHC subcommittees: Business Continuity, Continuity of Government, Debris Management, District Emergency Response, Impact Assessment, and International Aid Management. Most of these areas were previously handled informally or meshed with other duties. They are now separated to allow NHC personnel to give them the attention they need.

Many of these areas emerged as key concerns to you, in the public, as well as to the administration, in the aftermath of Ivan. Of particular note is the area of International Aid Management. We now have the benefit of post-Ivan experience to ensure that we are ready to communicate effectively with relevant agencies, so that the appropriate and necessary aid is mobilized to support our rapid recovery.

In the area of communications, the Government Information Services has produced, on behalf of the NHC, a new edition of the residents' hurricane information kit. This is already being distributed. GIS is also preparing a specially designed media information kit for mass mailing to the overseas press. I am pleased to say that this includes a video message from me which not only expresses to media our understanding of the importance of their role, but which welcomes them to the Cayman Islands as important international advocates for our recovery.

For public shelters, both fuel-storage capacity and air conditioning have been added and enhanced. Residents should remember, however, that our shelter strength has not yet returned to pre-Ivan levels. Consequently, public shelters should be considered a last resort. They should be used only when your home is deemed unsafe, and you do not have the opportunity to shelter with family or friends.

On a broader scale, I assure you that government has been concerned with, and proactive in, improving our Islands' infrastructure. Currently the Savannah gully is being researched and plans will be developed to forestall the traditional flooding from this natural formation. The Islands will also benefit from Lands and Survey's storm-surge and loss-projection modeling initiative. With this information, we can better prepare before a storm, and also improve our infrastructure and building-planning processes.

The establishment of a national emergency management agency is going forward. We anticipate that a director will be hired shortly and that by year's end, legislation will be presented to the Assembly, bringing the agency into operation.

For the financial services industry, the Portfolio of Finance and Economics is setting up systems to work with all identified business continuity contacts from our various service providers. The portfolio is also leading the charge on developing a framework among key government-based financial services entities, including the General Registry, the Monetary Authority, the Maritime Authority, the Stock Exchange, and the portfolio itself.

These systems will help ensure that information about government and NHC programmes is shared with decision-makers within the private sector. It also will allow the private sector to provide feedback and updates to government, in order to facilitate business continuity programmes.

And now the agenda comes to all of us, the people of the Cayman Islands. We must accept that one of life's smartest investments lies in protecting our loved ones and our property from natural disasters.

I therefore appeal for our continued national partnership in moving into our highest state of preparedness, especially in areas that need our immediate attention. Only this will ensure that what we have gained since Ivan is not again sacrificed to the forces of nature.

In closing, I leave with you the words of the great athlete Stan Smith, who said: "Experience tells you what to do; confidence allows you to do it."

Much of how we respond and recover from any disaster will depend upon what we have learned from our shared Ivan experiences. And by preparing to the highest level, we will have increased confidence in our ability to weather storms.

Again, I urge each of us to fully prepare on a personal level, as we approach this task of national preparedness with enthusiasm and dedication.

I pray for God's continued blessings, particularly during this hurricane season, on these Cayman Islands.

For further information contact: Pat Ebanks