More than $1 million in disaster relief warehouse management equipment was donated by the US Embassy to the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA).
It is part of the continued partnership between the US Embassy and TEMA to enhance disaster management capacity and improve the efficiency of emergency response operations across Tobago.
US Chargé d’Affaires Philip Kern, who was in Tobago for the handover, said the donation includes a range of equipment and systems aimed at ensuring the warehouse is fully equipped to support emergency response operations.
“Includes the delivery and installation of equipment, IT systems, software, and security systems, warehouse material handling systems, furnishings and other essential support items, all designed this warehouse’s operational readiness.”
This was the second phase of the donation, with the first phase including five days of training for 15 TEMA personnel in disaster relief warehouse management and the use of warehouse inventory control software.
Mr Kern stated that it is an attempt to assist TEMA in modernising its relief efforts.
“Our commitment to Trinidad and Tobago is not just about managing crises together. It’s about building local capacity, self-reliance, and resilience to allow this nation to lead its own disaster response, today and in the future.”
This is not the first time the US Embassy has assisted in building disaster relief capacity in Tobago. In 2016, the Embassy funded the construction of the warehouse to store relief supplies and made several donations in subsequent years.
TEMA Director Allan Stewart welcomed the latest assistance in building capacity because it means building better resilience.
“A resilient nation allow us to be able to cope to allow us to coordinate events when they occur.”
Mr Stewart is confident that the training and equipment would go a long way in making disaster response more efficient and keeping Tobago safe.
“I think we have a well trained team coming out of all of this that will be able to manage these assets and to broaden our horizons as to how we decentralise relief items.”
Some of the equipment allows TEMA to increase capacity within its shelving units and make access to items easier, all while knowing exactly what is being stored and in what quantities.