Caribbean Times 30th Issue - Monday 7th November 2016

Monday 7th November 2016 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 3
Antigua and Barbuda
commemorates World Tsunami Day
By Joanna Paris
Antigua and Barbuda joined the
rest of the world last Saturday to
recognize World Tsunami Awareness
Day 2016. According to information
from the Ministry of Social Transformation,
the day is aimed at improving
expertise in areas such as early warning,
public action and recovery after
a disaster.
Minister for Social Transformation
with responsibility for disaster
preparedness the Hon. Samantha
Marshall, indicated that “the country
is pleased to join
in such a celebration and to use
the opportunity to put things in perspective”.
According to Minister Marshall,
it is important for residents and citizens
to be aware of what to do and
where to go in the event that a tsunami
warning is issued.
Based on research, from 1530 to
present, Antigua and Barbuda has
been impacted directly or indirectly
by 24 tsunamis.
Minister Marshall added that this
hazard doesn’t strike often but in recent
times individuals have seen the
destructive power of this particular
hazard and its ability to claim lives in
large numbers.
The National Office of Disaster
Services and the government of Antigua
and Barbuda is therefore urging
citizens and residents to spend some
time to focus on being safe in the
event of a tsunami.
In terms of awareness, Minister
Marshall noted that discussions must
also be held in schools, workplaces
and the community to further sensitize
persons about the potentially
deadly disaster.
Staff members at State Insurance Corporation recently established what they have dubbed their Green Team. The Teammates
are concerned primarily with environmental issues and chose to launch with a clean-up at Runaway Beach. The
exercise commenced with a blessing by Pastor Ivor Davis (not pictured) of the Zion Church of God), and at the end, the
collected bags of garbage were carted away by National Solid Waste Management Authority.