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PIOJ Growth-Inducement Strategy - Planning Institute of Jamaica

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C<br />

__________________<br />

Enhancing National Resilience: Focus on<br />

the Built and Natural Environments<br />

Dr. Barbara Carby<br />

Director, Disaster Risk Reduction Centre, UWI<br />

1.0 Background<br />

This presentation was prepared for the <strong>Planning</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jamaica</strong>’s launch <strong>of</strong> its<br />

<strong>Growth</strong>- <strong>Inducement</strong> <strong>Strategy</strong>. As the time given to each presenter is short, only a brief<br />

review and discussion <strong>of</strong> the topic “Enhancing National Resilience: Focus on the Built<br />

and Natural Environments’ is possible.<br />

2.0 The <strong>Growth</strong> <strong>Inducement</strong> <strong>Strategy</strong><br />

I will first look at some aspects <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Strategy</strong> and then at aspects <strong>of</strong> national resilience.<br />

The <strong>Strategy</strong> states that US$19 billion worth <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jamaica</strong>’s infrastructure assets are<br />

exposed to natural hazards. On average, each year 1% - 2% <strong>of</strong> GDP is lost to the impact<br />

<strong>of</strong> hazards. These figures do not reflect the human costs – death, injuries, suffering, loss<br />

<strong>of</strong> livelihoods and income. It is clear that if national growth is to be induced and<br />

maintained, the question <strong>of</strong> resilience to the impact <strong>of</strong> hazards must be confronted.<br />

The United Nations International <strong>Strategy</strong> for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) defines<br />

resilience as “The ability <strong>of</strong> a system, community or society exposed to hazards to resist,<br />

absorb, accommodate to and recover from the effects <strong>of</strong> a hazard in a timely and<br />

efficient manner, including through the preservation and restoration <strong>of</strong> its essential basic<br />

structures and functions.” A resilient society, therefore, suffers less impact and is able to<br />

recover from the effects <strong>of</strong> a disaster much more quickly.<br />

The <strong>Strategy</strong> covers major issues related to growth inducement. However, there are three<br />

areas which were omitted, and which have implications for both growth and national<br />

resilience.<br />

1. The agriculture and water sectors are not included in Part IV.F; but Table F.1<br />

indicates that, at March 2010, Agriculture, Hunting and Fishing employed most<br />

persons – approximately 25%. This would seem to be a potential area for growth.<br />

Agriculture is, <strong>of</strong> course, also a critical component <strong>of</strong> food security, itself an<br />

important component <strong>of</strong> national resilience.<br />

2. Water will be needed for any type <strong>of</strong> growth - short, medium or long term. Given<br />

the present challenges associated with water delivery in many areas, coupled with<br />

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