NEMA hosts role of the media workshop

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 29, 2019 (ZIZ News): Media professionals on St. Kitts and Nevis gathered at the NEMA Conference Room on Wednesday for the hosting of a workshop titled “Role of the Media in Disaster Management”, hosted by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with the Office of us Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA).

The workshop was hosted as efforts are being made by the NEMA and USAID/OFDA to establish specific standards of communication related to impacts and disaster situations when they occur, to be maintained, as part of the agency’s Comprehensive Disaster Management Strategy.

In acknowledging the success of the workshop, Public Relations Officer at NEMA Vesta Southwell said NEMA recognizes the need to foster a relationship with the media.

CEO of VH Communications, Val Henry, who was the chief facilitator of the workshop, said a workshop of this type was necessary as it is important to define the roles of NEMA and the media as partners as they both have a critical role to play in the event of a natural disaster.

The workshop saw presentations by the Deputy Disaster Management Coordinator on the role of NEMA, a presentation on the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season by SCASPA and an outline of the USAID/ OFDA Partnership by Ann Jean- Baptiste.