By George Alleyne
A Caribbean man is now in
charge of the world’s drive for
developing strength against,
and reducing risks from, disasters
while positioning territories
across the planet to quickly
resume normal life following
such catastrophes, either natural
or manmade.
He is Jamaican born Ronald
Jackson who last month
end resigned his position of
Executive Director of the Caribbean
Disaster Emergency
Management Agency (CDEMA),
to take up a post as Director
of the United Nation’s Disaster
Risk Reduction and Recovery
for Building Resilience Team
(DRT), in Geneva.
Jackson is credited with
taking Caribbean resilience
against natural and other disasters
to a higher level during
his seven years at the Barbados
based CDEMA office, steering
the region through many
of the devastating cyclones
that hit the Caribbean almost
every year, including Tropical
Caribbean L 18 ife, May 15-21, 2020
Storm Erika in Dominica
in 2015, Hurricanes Irma and
Maria that hit nine countries in
2017, Hurricane Dorian in the
Commonwealth of The Bahamas
in 2019.
At his time of leaving for
the post in Europe he was
coordinating Caribbean social
protective measures against
the COVID-19 pandemic now
affecting the world.
Since he left the job of
Jamaica’s Director General of
Office of Disaster Preparedness
and Emergency Management
to lead CDEMA in 2013, Jackson
has been credited with providing
“outstanding leadership
to the CDEMA Coordinating
Unit and in the implementation
of the Agency’s policies
and programmes,” according
to the regional organisation.
He is recognised for gaining
for CDEMA further recognition
and prominence globally as one
of the foremost regional disaster
risk management institutions
and a preferred partner
for a safe and more resilient
Caribbean.
“His commitment and advocacy
in promoting and advancing
the implementation of the
Comprehensive Disaster Management
Strategy and Framework
for the Region, has captivated
many audiences across
the globe, resulting in a significant
increase of resources
through donor financing support
to the implementation of
Disaster Risk Management programs
in participating states,”
according to CDEMA.
“He led the development
of the Caribbean Pathway to
Resilience and spearheaded its
socialization within the region
and among the Americas.
Mr. Jackson was also instrumental
in the strengthening
of cooperative arrangements
with the Disaster Management
Organization in the Dominican
Republic, with the French
Overseas Territories and the
Dutch Caribbean. CDEMA’s
Membership also increased
from 18 to 19 under his stewardship,”
the agency stated.
Jamaican-born Ronald Jackson. Photo by George Alleyne
“This is a bitter-sweet
moment for me. I am excited
at the opportunity to be able
to practice in a global capacity
but I feel a sense of duty
to the Caribbean community
and as such a part of me will
miss working in a context that
inspires innovation. However,
I feel that I am leaving behind
a wonderful platform for the
continued advancement of the
Region’s Integrated Risk Management
Agenda and the continued
growth of the agency,”
Jackson said.
Caribbean man heads world
disaster management