CDEMA Council to meet in Port of Spain to discuss strengthening regional disaster resilience ahead of the 2026 hurricane season

Ministers with responsibility for disaster management and senior government officials from across the CDEMA’s 20 Participating States will meet in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, for the 16th Regular Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to discuss matters shaping the Region's disaster resilience agenda.

The Council Meeting will bring together representatives from CDEMA Participating States, regional institutions, and development partners to review progress, endorse strategic priorities, and provide policy direction for the continued advancement of Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) across the region.

The meeting comes as Caribbean states prepare for the 2026 hurricane season while simultaneously addressing the complex realities of climate change, multiple hazards and increasing demands on national disaster management systems.

Among the key matters slated for discussion are recommendations arising from the Management Committee of Council, updates on the implementation of the CDEMA Coordinating Unit's Annual Work Plans, resource mobilization efforts, operational readiness across Participating States, and the strengthening of the Regional Response Mechanism (RRM).

Council members will also consider strategic documents that will shape the future direction of the Agency, including the Comprehensive Disaster Management Strategy Beyond 2024 and the proposed framework for the CDEMA Coordinating Unit Strategic Plan Beyond 2027.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Executive Director of CDEMA, Ms. Elizabeth Riley, said the decisions emerging from the Council Meeting will guide the work of the CDEMA System over the coming year.

"The Council Meeting provides a critical opportunity for our Ministers and senior officials to take strategic decisions that will strengthen regional solidarity, enhance preparedness, and ensure that our people are better protected before, during and after disasters. The outcomes of the deliberations will help position the region to meet today's challenges while building resilience for generations to come," she added.

Participating States:

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sint Maarten, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands

The Honorable Roger Alexander, Minister of Homeland Security of Trinidad and Tobago, emphasized the importance of regional unity and collective action, stating: “No country, regardless of size or resources, can manage every risk alone. The strength of the Caribbean lies in our unity and our commitment to stand together. When one nation is challenged, the entire region must be prepared to respond as one. We are not isolated islands facing shared threats; we are one Caribbean community with a shared responsibility to protect our people. Through CDEMA and our continued partnership, we can strengthen preparedness, build resilience and ensure that no country stands alone before, during or after a disaster.”

Also included on the June 26 meeting agenda, include regional readiness and preparedness ahead of the hurricane season; lessons emerging from recent emergency events and after-action reviews; progress in the implementation of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems; updates on the Caribbean Resilient Recovery Facility; the advancement of CDEMA’s Regional Training Centre and upcoming preparations for the 14th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management being held in Georgetown, Guyana from 7-12 December, 2026.

The Council is expected to endorse a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening national and regional disaster management systems, enhancing accountability and governance, improving resource mobilization, and reinforcing mechanisms that support coordinated action among Participating States.

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