The National Disaster Management Council (NDMC) held its first meeting for the year this week as preparatory works begin for the upcoming cyclone season.
Chaired by the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Inia Seruiratu, the meeting was held virtually in line with COVID-19 restrictions and protocols in place.
In addressing the meeting, Minister Seruiratu reminded the Council members that the focus now should be on preparation for the upcoming cyclone season.
“I know that preparatory work is not something that we will focus on when we come close to the cyclone season but something that we will need to pay attention to right throughout. This is because while we may be focused only on natural disasters that do not stop the fact that we may have other forms of disasters and, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic that we’re currently battling,” Minister Seruiratu said.
Minister Seruiratu said the pandemic has shown Government the need to relook at our national crisis framework in terms of preparedness for the future.
“As Minister responsible for national security, that is something that we are working on in the Ministry."
During the meeting, Minister Seruiratu also assured the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) that the Ministry, through the NDMO would look and work on improvements in various aspects of our humanitarian work.
The Council was also informed about some preparatory works currently conducted by the NDMO ahead of the new cyclone season. This includes the formulation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to provide some guidance to personnel involved in future disaster operations.
The Council also discussed the contents of the TC Yasa and TC Ana reports which were tabled during today’s meeting.
The Council members also paid tribute and acknowledged the work done by former Permanent Secretary MRMDDM, the late Ratu Meleti Bainimarama, who during his tenure as PS, led the massive disaster operations for Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016 as the National Disaster Controller.