Retraining boost confidence of CERT Team

MIRI: Some 200 participants from 70 villages and longhouses in Bekenu constituency completed Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Retraining Programme at Sepupok Community Hall in Niah recently.

Subis District Officer Jamalie Busri represented Assistant Minister of Women, Family and Childhood Development Rosey Yunus at the closing ceremony of the programme.

“This programme aimed to retrain CERT participants as well as increase awareness on emergencies that can happen at their respective communities.

“The CERT team for DUN N71 Bekenu was set up after they attended a programme in 2011, followed by another similar programme in 2012. The CERT team serves as the first response team in the event of emergency while waiting for the arrival of relevant agencies to provide professional assistance,” said Rosey in her text of speech read by Jamalie.

Rosey who is also Bekenu assemblywoman wanted the retraining programme to benefit the local people especially those in remote areas.

She pointed out that the aim of CERT programme was to have an effective team comprising villagers and longhouse folks in rescue work with fast response to any emergency in their areas.

She hope the retraining boosted participants’ confidence in giving systematic response to any emergency or disaster case.

“I hoped that those in the CERT team can give their total commitment and carry out their roles effectively.

“As this is voluntary work, it would be nice for the CERT team to treat their service as contribution for community wellbeing.”

She strongly believed that CERT team would complement existing voluntary bodies such as neighbourhood committee ( RT), Voluntary Corps ( Rela), friends of police ( Rakan Kop) among others.