SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — In an effort to strengthen cooperation among disaster and emergency management agencies across the region, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Emergency Commission (CNE) of the Dominican Republic.

The MOU, which was signed on June 6 by Ronald Jackson, executive director of CDEMA, and Major General Rafael Pichirilo of the CNE, aims to establish a general framework of cooperation and partnership between the institutions. The agreement covers areas of mutual interest and efforts to support the regional disaster resilience building agenda within the Caribbean and more particularly between CDEMA participating states and the Dominican Republic.

In welcoming the prospects of the partnership with the CNE, Jackson said that it is a timely initiative especially given the heightened risks exposure to the region as a result of climate change.

“As we seek to deliver on this regional risk management programme, it is essential that we make use of every opportunity to harmonize our efforts to ensure that the wider Caribbean Community including our partners in the Dominican Republic is able to maximize on the benefits to be derived from our shared experiences and expertise in dealing with the realities of climate change,” Jackson said.

“Language should not be a barrier to our partnership and efforts to identify common solutions to shared risk experiences,” he added.

The two institutions seek to complement efforts and create synergies in which each partner’s advantages are enhanced, capitalizing on the experience and for the purpose of undertaking joint actions in areas of interest, including the design of strategies and actions aimed at capacity building within CDEMA participating states and the Dominican Republic in relation to comprehensive disaster management.

During his official visit to the Dominican Republic, Jackson also met with Ambassador Antonio Vargas Hernandez, the NAO of European Funds for Development and Director General of Multilateral Cooperation (DIGECOOM).

Hernandez expressed his satisfaction with the signing of the MOU between the two agencies and said that by order of President Danilo Medina, the institution he leads has advocated and promoted closer cooperation with the Caribbean. He also highlighted the need for greater collaboration in integrating disaster risk management in academics, specifically in the curricula of schools and universities in the Dominican Republic.

Jackson also expressed his appreciation to the ambassador and the CNE for the warm reception, while pledging his commitment to work closely with the country as it faces the common problems and challenges.