Civil servants are being urged to strengthen coordination and preparedness as Barbados faces increasingly complex and frequent hazards, with a new training initiative aimed at improving the country’s disaster response capacity.

Public officers are attending a two-day workshop to strengthen their understanding of their roles within the National Emergency Management System, improve inter-agency communication and coordination, and develop practical emergency management skills.

Deputy director of the Department of Emergency Management, Major Robert Harewood, focused on the importance of the training for effective disaster management.