Single Communication Platform to Be Rolled Out Ahead of Hurricane Beryl

The Government will be rolling out a single communication platform, which will assist in effectively coordinating the activities of emergency management agencies throughout the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, made the disclosure during National Disaster Risk Management Council (NDRMC) meeting at the Ministry in Kingston on Monday (July 1).

“The good news is that the telecommunications system that we have been working on with the Project Engineer for the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) for the last three years will be used this hurricane season.

“Already, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has been working with the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) and the various Municipal Corporations across the country to establish the system,” he said.

Project Engineer for the JICA project for the improvement of emergency communication in Jamaica, Dane Lawrence, said the system will be distributed across the island’s disaster management network.

“We have implemented an emergency communication system which will be very helpful and useful in facilitating communication among stakeholders, such as disaster management entities within the various parishes, and the National Emergency Operating Centre (NEOC),” he informed.

Mr. Lawrence said the facility will assist in response efforts during Hurricane Beryl.

“During this hurricane, we are going to be starting the implementation… by distributing radios to the various communities, community personnels and also critical disaster management entities,” he informed.

These include the National Works Agency (NWA), JFB, Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), and the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

“They will be participating in managing the different situations across the parishes, and because of this implementation, because of this system, we have a single platform where all the entities can communicate and be updated in real time as the different situations arise. This will give us the opportunity to formulate the various responses, based on the different entities and their function as it relates to disaster management,” Mr. Lawrence pointed out.

The project is being undertaken by JICA and the Government of Jamaica.