Satellite phones form part of tourism ministry’s disaster-preparedness efforts

SIX SATELLITE phones, procured at a cost of $3 million, were presented to destination managers from the resort locations of Negril, Montego Bay, Kingston, Ocho Rios, Falmouth, Portland and St Thomas.

The devices form part of the tourism ministry’s disaster-preparedness efforts and will improve the interface between the ministry and its agencies, the tourism emergency operations centres, National Emergency Operations Centre, resort areas, and wider tourism partners and stakeholders.

Since 2006, the ministry has been working in collaboration with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to mainstream disaster risk management within the tourism sector through its Multi-hazard and Contingency Planning Programme.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett noted that communications represent a “central part of resilience building”, and the provision of the phones will boost efforts in this regard.

Director General of ODPEM, Major Clive Davis, hailed the tourism ministry for taking proactive steps to strengthen disaster preparedness.

COMMUNICATION IS CRITICAL

He noted that communication “is one of

those critical points of failure (during a disaster), which could cause you much challenge in delivery of service”.

Major Davis pledged to continue to support the development of the ministry’s disaster-management programme, assuring that “we will be there for you as and when required”.

For his part, Executive Director of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), Dr Andrew Spencer, expressed gratitude to the tourism minister for entrusting the agency and the destination managers “with these powerful instruments”.

TPDCo, regarded as the destination assurance agency, provides support to the Destination Assurance Councils in resort locations through destination assurance managers, who are responsible for coordinating the work of governmental and non-governmental agencies in resort areas.