Disaster Management Policy Framework for Saint Lucia.

The Disaster Management Policy Framework is a cross-sectoral national policy of Saint Lucia. The main objective of the Policy is to advance an approach to disaster management that focuses on reducing risks – the risk of loss of life, economic disruption and damage to the environment and property, especially to those sections of the population who are most vulnerable due to poverty and a general lack of resources.
To this end, the Policy deploys a set of objectives. Among others, it aims to establish necessary systems for reducing disaster risks and preparing for and responding to disasters in order to minimize human suffering from natural and man-made hazards; reduce economic loss from hazard impacts; protect the integrity of the terrestrial and marine environments; and reduce loss and damage over the short and long term. For these objectives, the following strategies are identified in the Policy: urgent integration of risk reduction strategies into development initiatives and all development planning; development and maintenance of a mitigation strategy to reduce the vulnerability of Saint Lucia to disasters; upkeep of the National Emergency Management Organization and National Emergency Operations Centre to ensure that an effective disaster management strategy is established and implemented; coordinating disaster management at various levels of government; promoting and assisting the implementation and institutionalization of disaster management activities in all sectors of society; ensuring that the capacity for tracking, monitoring and disseminating information on phenomena and activities that trigger disaster events is established and maintained; introduction of a new disaster management funding system which ensures that risk reduction measures are implemented, builds sufficient capacity to respond to disasters, provides for adequate post-disaster relief and recovery; implementation of the Disaster Preparedness and Response Act which brings about a uniform approach to disaster management and addresses legislative shortcomings; establishment of a framework to enable communities to be informed, alert and self-reliant and capable of supporting and cooperating with government in disaster prevention and mitigation; and the establishment of a framework for coordinating and strengthening the current fragmented training and community awareness initiatives.
The Policy notes that it involves all government institutions, the private sector and civil society and other players, as well as all activities related to disaster management. Also, it provides that during disaster in Saint Lucia, the National Emergency Management Organization as part of a large network comes into existence to respond. Various ministries are essential to a response action. There are also eighteen District Committees that are composed similarly to the national committees, which are composed of representatives of various ministries and social groups.