Cabinet approves IEMO admission for St. Kitts and Nevis

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JANUARY 12TH 2012 (CUOPM) – The St. Kitts and Nevis Cabinet has supported the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Sam Condor for the admission of the twin-island Federation to the International Emergency Management Organisation (IEMO).

The IEMO is an organisation that was established in 2006 pursuant to international disaster relief efforts related to tsunamis and other disasters occurring around that time. The IEMO came into full operation recently as an Intergovernmental Organization, composed of a governing Council and a Secretariat.

The mandate of the IEMO includes the prevention of, preparedness for, mitigation of and recovery from natural or man-made disaster.

The IEMO has a membership of about 140 states and international organisations, including 11 Caribbean states.

As a small-island state vulnerable to natural disasters, membership in the International Emergency Management Organisation (IEMO) bodes well for increased ability to prepare for, mitigate the impact of and recover from natural disasters in the future.