Anse Kouanari Tourism Association Inc. (AKTA) hosts Community Stakeholder Consultation and Workshop

On Saturday March 16th, 2024, the Anse Kouanari Tourism Association Inc. (AKTA) hosted a Community Stakeholder Consultation and Workshop with stakeholders and residents of the Castle Bruce community.

The consultation was held to discuss the community’s vulnerabilities to climate change in preparation for a Community-based and Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction Project for Castle Bruce.  

The Consultation kicked off with an 'About Us' presentation, sharing with participants a brief history of AKTA, its focus areas, previous projects and upcoming events/activities.

Session 2 was a presentation through which the participants learned what vulnerability means - in the context of climate change and extreme weather events, as well as the three key components of vulnerability.

The highlight of the workshop was a Community Mapping session, facilitated by AKTA’s Project Manager – Mrs. Naomi Bannis-Sampson, in which participants worked in groups to understand the layout of the community and the key features and resources that have been impacted or may be at risk from disaster and climate hazards.

Community Mapping is a participation driven process that draws on local knowledge and memory in a community and puts people's spatial knowledge around an identified issue of interest on the map.

It identifies and documents the location of hazards and vulnerable areas of most concern, important community assets/infrastructure, livelihood activities and natural resources in the community.

It can also be used to identify key resources and services that enable adaptation to the impacts of disaster and climate hazards.

In attendance were several community leaders including members of the Village Council, Clergy, Uniform groups, Disaster Committee and Schools.

Additionally, many farmers, a few college students and other residents of the community also attended.

AKTA sought feedback from a few individuals who attended the session:

Retired Park Warden Fortinelle Jacob indicated that he welcomed the consultation in which participants became more aware of their vulnerability to disaster and extreme weather events.

He also commended the group for taking this initiative of engaging with residents and helping them to gain a deeper understanding of vulnerability.

He said, “people are not taking disaster vulnerability seriously in our area”.  

Acting Chief of Dominica Scout Association & 1st Castle Bruce Scout Troup Leader Kenrick Lecointe said, “this initiative was a brilliant one, we really need to save our rivers and agricultural land”.

Mrs. Naomi Bannis – Sampson said that she was very pleased with the turn out, “the turnout was excellent with a cross section of community members (from community leaders to farmers and students) and participation was excellent. I think persons were able to grasp the concept of vulnerability even better, with the explanation of the key component of vulnerability”.

Mrs.Bannis-Sampson said that she felt that this consultation made apositive impact and believes that the community is always looking for an opportunity to work together and that they are looking forward to other similar activities.

This Consultation forms part of a small grant project being implemented by AKTA under the CSOs for Disaster Resilience: Empowering civil society and local communities to build resilience to hurricanes and climate extremes in the Eastern Caribbean Project - supported by a small grant from Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) with over-arching funding from the Inter-American Foundation (IAF).

Furthermore, in observance of International Day of Forests – this Saturday (23/03/24) AKTA will hosting a Tree Planting Drive in the Castle Bruce community. AKTA would like to invite college & high school students, community groups and other interested parties to join them from 7am in Sikwi, Castle Bruce.

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