Saint Kitts And Nevis Signs MOU with Global Support and Development to Strengthen Disaster Preparedness and Response

BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts (SKNIS) – The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Global Support and Development (GSD), marking a significant step in enhancing the Federation’s disaster preparedness and response capacity.

The agreement formalises a partnership between the Government and GSD, an international nonprofit organisation dedicated to strengthening national and regional disaster management systems. Through this collaboration, GSD will work alongside local agencies and civil society groups to enhance disaster readiness, improve response coordination, and foster long-term resilience.

Speaking at the signing ceremony on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, emphasised the urgency of preparing for the uncertainties posed by climate change and the importance of partnerships such as this.

“We don’t fully understand what will happen with the rising temperature and with climate change. We have some ideas about what could happen, and these ideas suggest a bleak future with respect to disasters and climate change. But with all of that said, there’s always hope. And the hope lies in organisations like GSD, an organisation whose mandate is to work with countries like us and regions like us so that we can be prepared for the uncertainties,” Prime Minister Drew said.

GSD has already made tangible contributions to the Federation’s disaster management efforts. Most recently, GSD supported NEMA in outfitting community centres with base radios and providing handheld radios for community volunteers, significantly strengthening communication during disaster response. In addition, GSD assisted in the procurement of computers and related equipment, further enhancing NEMA’s capacity to coordinate preparedness and response operations.

GSD’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Michael Court, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting national systems and working in partnership with local institutions.

“At GSD, our goal is very simple: to rapidly respond when disasters strike, in support of national response systems, and to strengthen those same systems outside of crisis, so that they can successfully coordinate, respond, and meet the needs of their communities,” Dr. Court said. “Our aim is always to complement existing systems, not to compete with them.”

Dr. Court also noted the importance of this partnership with Saint Kitts and Nevis, recalling that the Federation was among the first countries where GSD shared its vision for regional collaboration.

The signing of the MoU underscores the Government’s commitment to safeguarding the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis through stronger disaster risk management and resilience-building strategies. The collaboration will see GSD providing technical expertise, rapid response support, and long-term capacity development, including the use of its humanitarian vessel, MV Dawn, to assist in times of crisis.

The signing ceremony was also attended by Dr. Marcus Natta, Cabinet Secretary; Mr. Glenroy Blanchette, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security; Mr. Livingston Pemberton, National Disaster Coordinator of NEMA; Mr. Brian Dyer, Director of the Nevis Disaster Management Department; and other government officials.