The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has reaffirmed its strong commitment to regional disaster preparedness following a presentation by the Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) during her official visit to the country.
The Executive Director visited Antigua and Barbuda to participate in the commissioning of upgraded hurricane shelters and to engage Government officials on regional disaster resilience initiatives ahead of another Atlantic hurricane season.
During her presentation to Cabinet, she warned that climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent, more destructive and increasingly expensive for Caribbean nations, placing growing demands on regional emergency management systems.
Cabinet was informed that CDEMA continues to coordinate disaster response across the Caribbean while providing technical assistance, specialized training and operational support to participating states. However, changing global funding priorities have made traditional sources of international development assistance less predictable, creating new financial challenges for the agency.
The Executive Director outlined efforts to strengthen the institution through organizational restructuring, expanded technical capacity and the development of more sustainable financing mechanisms designed to ensure that emergency resources remain readily available when disasters occur.
Cabinet noted that Antigua and Barbuda has benefited significantly from its partnership with CDEMA, receiving extensive technical and financial support between 2019 and 2025, including disaster response assistance, emergency management training and access to regional and international expertise.
The presentation also highlighted Antigua and Barbuda’s longstanding role as a Sub-Regional Focal Point within the Caribbean disaster management system, a responsibility that has enhanced both national preparedness and regional cooperation for decades.
Following the presentation, Cabinet reaffirmed that strengthening disaster preparedness remains a national priority as Caribbean countries confront increasingly complex climate and environmental challenges.
The Government also expressed support for initiatives aimed at securing the long-term sustainability of CDEMA through enhanced regional cooperation, capacity building and innovative financing arrangements.
Officials said Antigua and Barbuda remains committed to working closely with regional partners to build more resilient communities, protect lives and property and ensure that the country is prepared to respond effectively to future natural disasters and emergencies.
