Caribbean Times 44th Issue
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
6 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g<br />
Friday 25th November 2016<br />
NODS calls for more focus on<br />
disaster management plans<br />
By Joanna Paris<br />
Director of the National<br />
Office of Disaster Services<br />
(NODS), Philmore Mullin,<br />
has issued a clarion call for<br />
businesses to develop Disaster<br />
Management plans,<br />
which cover all of the disasters<br />
that can affect the country.<br />
While appearing on<br />
Against the Backdrop on<br />
state media on Thursday,<br />
Media is key to democracy<br />
By Renio Abbott<br />
The China Latin American and <strong>Caribbean</strong> Media Summit<br />
was concluded in Santiago, Chile yesterday. Of the many vital<br />
points that were made at the summit, it was underscored<br />
that partnership in media is vital and should serve as a bridge<br />
between sources to share media work. It should be regarded<br />
as essential and of great value to a country.<br />
The utilization of media forces in the exchange of ideas<br />
for development in cultural diversity, promotion and acceptance<br />
should be published and seen on every media forum<br />
in all forms and languages. The collaboration of the media<br />
and vivid presentation of information is a great way to foster<br />
news reporting.<br />
Social media serves as a critical forum in the media,<br />
it aids as a great help for a country and the views are not<br />
only very important, but can also be beneficial to society. It<br />
should be in all available languages especially for the global<br />
unity to promote “One World; New World; Unification”.<br />
Websites should be developed abroad in association with<br />
different media houses to help a country’s economy, expand<br />
growth and experience, while providing necessary education<br />
to tourists.<br />
Media in China, Latin America and the <strong>Caribbean</strong> is<br />
about to change and the world will be looking at us from<br />
many different angles. Society is served by the media in so<br />
many different ways especially now via Facebook, Instagram,<br />
Twitter, MSN and the list goes on. Someone once said<br />
Twittering is a form of Journalism but it’s not.<br />
Newspapers should not be eliminated because of the<br />
threat of mobile technology, but it can be an online newspaper<br />
because of the constant recycling, it is also a more<br />
economical form of running a paper. Not everyone has the<br />
opportunity or luxury of having the internet, therefore there<br />
is always be a need for circulation of good old fashion print.<br />
Mullin expressed his dissatisfaction<br />
with the level of seriousness<br />
that disaster management<br />
is approached with<br />
across the country.<br />
He indicated that the<br />
discussion needs to be widened<br />
and that there need to<br />
be individual and collective<br />
responsibility in this regard.<br />
“We need to make a deliberate<br />
and consistent effort<br />
to build resilience into our<br />
development. As we develop,<br />
we need to ensure that we<br />
build right. There is a falsehood<br />
perpetrated by many<br />
that this office is responsible<br />
to ensure that everybody is<br />
safe. That is an individual<br />
responsibility,” he said.<br />
He said that the department<br />
has plans to engage<br />
the public more in efforts to<br />
increase awareness about disaster<br />
services and management.<br />
As the 2016 Hurricane<br />
Season comes to an official<br />
end on November 30 th ,<br />
Mullin reflected on the preparedness<br />
for the season. He<br />
said that the country was not<br />
affected by any major storm<br />
or hurricane but preparation<br />
cannot be over emphasized.<br />
He mentioned that moving<br />
forward, more focus<br />
should be placed on people.<br />
“We need to remove the<br />
focus to some extent from<br />
things and focus more on<br />
people. Yes, we need to ensure<br />
that shelters are intact<br />
and everything else like that<br />
but ultimately, we need to<br />
ensure that at the end of a disaster,<br />
the focus is on people<br />
and their ability to survive<br />
and sustain themselves after<br />
an impact”, Mullin emphasized.<br />
Informative, reliable, enriching!<br />
Think you have a good news story; did you witness<br />
anything that is news-worthy; did you take that<br />
valuable picture; things happening in your community<br />
but there is no outlet or voice for you? You can<br />
earn just by telling your story.<br />
Call <strong>Caribbean</strong> <strong>Times</strong> at (268) 562 8688<br />
Email: editor@caribbeantimes.ag<br />
Or news@caribbeantimes.ag<br />
Reach us now with that breaking news!