Caption: Mr. Fitzroy Pascal, National Disaster Coordinator with Dominica’s Office of Disaster Management, views the donated forklift

The United States Embassy donated a forklift to Dominica’s Office of Disaster Management to enhance Dominica’s disaster readiness and resilience. The equipment was acquired through U.S. Southern Command’s (USSOUTHCOM) Humanitarian Assistance Program, which is dedicated to helping partner nations build their disaster readiness, response and mitigation capabilities. “This donation to Dominica’s Office of Disaster Management is an opportunity to extend the partnership between the United States and the region,” said U.S. Coast Guard Commander Steve Charnon, Senior Defense Official at the U.S. Embassy in Barbados. “The better prepared and equipped the national disaster agencies in the Eastern Caribbean are before a major disaster, the safer and more resilient the region is when responding to crisis.”

Mr. Fitzroy Pascal, National Disaster Coordinator for the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) said, “The ODM is grateful and appreciative of the donation of a forklift from the USSOUTHCOM which will significantly improve the efficiency of operations in the warehouses at the ODM and contribute to the enhancement of the national relief, logistics, and warehousing program on a whole. The forklift was put into operation immediately by the Disaster Office. The ODM, on behalf of the National Disaster Management System, expresses thanks to the USSOUTHCOM for their continued support and dedication to the advancement of Comprehensive Disaster Management in Dominica, and look forward to future collaborations.”

This donation continues the long-standing cooperative relationship between Dominica and the United States. Most recently in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Southern Command provided US$15,000 in personal protective equipment while the United States provided thousands of PCR test kits to Dominica through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Construction is also currently underway for new emergency operations centers and disaster relief warehouses in Castle Bruce and Portsmouth with the support of US$4 million from the USSOUTHCOM Humanitarian Assistance Program.