Fifteen first responders from the Caribbean, including sixteen police and fire officers from the Virgin Islands (VI), completed the CARICOM Disaster Response Unit Training in the Virgin Islands. Photo: BVI DDM

Director of Disaster Management, Jasen H. Penn said the training provided improved response capacity for the Caribbean by enabling the rapid deployment of qualified personnel. Photo: BVI DDM

The field skills of participants of the CARICOM Disaster Response Unit Training were tested with a practical exercise on Friday, February 27, and Saturday, February 28, 2026. Photo: BVI DDM

The field deployment training and exercise held in the VI was led by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) from February 23 to 28, 2026. 

The training aimed to prepare participants for deployment with the CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit to support requests from CDEMA participating states for assistance in responding to a disaster. 

The training began with classroom-type sessions on Emergency Operations Centre procedures, telecommunications and other field skills necessary for setting up operations in a recently impacted location. 

Participants’ skills in the field were then tested with a practical exercise on Friday, February 27, and Saturday, February 28, 2026.

The scenario was a Category 4 hurricane that impacted Tortola and Virgin Gorda, requiring participants to establish a base of operations on the sister island, then connect with the Virgin Islands national emergency operations centre and regional operations centre.

Enhancing regional resilience- Mr Jason Penn

According to the Director of Disaster Management, Jasen H. Penn, the training provided improved response capacity for the Caribbean by enabling the rapid deployment of qualified personnel. 

“Training like this enhances the resilience of the entire region…Our officers and the participants from neighbouring islands gain experience working together and practise responding to a major multi-island impact.”

First responders from Montserrat, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis and St Vincent and the Grenadines joined their VI counterparts for the 5-day training. 

CDEMA’s Executive Director, Ms Elizabeth Riley, said the great strength of the way things are done in the Caribbean is that Overseas Territories and independent countries can be part of a unified response team.