Celebrating under the theme, “Our Community, Our Safety: Tsunami Ready Together,” the ceremony marked another crucial step in Saint Lucia’s efforts to strengthen early warning, coastal preparedness, and community resilience. Choiseul/Piaye is the second tsunami recognition for Saint Lucia in 2 years following Laborie in 2024, and is the 26th for the Caribbean and adjacent regions early warning system (CARIBE-EWS) and the 126th worldwide.
Chair, Working Group 4 (Preparedness, Readiness and Resilience) of the IOC led Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE-EWS) Mr. Jacob Ngumbah, congratulated the Government and people of Saint Lucia on their achievement. This recent recognition comes on the heels of the UNESCO IOC CARIBE-EWS MG 86 Community Multiannual Tsunami Exercise Planning Regional Workshop and the Meeting of the regional ICG/CARIBE-EWS CARIBE WAVE Exercise Task Team over 29 June – 03 July 2026 in Saint Lucia.
The integration of the inclusive community drill for Choiseul/Piaye on 01 July 2026 within the IOC-led activities was a further testament of Saint Lucia’s commitment to the goals of the IOC-led UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the UN’s Secretary General’s Early Warning for All initiative. Reflecting on the importance of exercises and continued practice, Ngumbah underscored: “It is better to Prepare and Prevent than to Repair and Repent.”
Reducing disaster risk requires not only institutional systems but also individual and collective responsibility to protect families, neighbours, and communities. This was the observation of the Hon. Keithson Charles, Parliamentary Representative for Choiseul/Saltibus who called for the achievement to help build a lasting culture of safety within the constituency. Mrs. Kenisha Jeffrey-Isembert, Director, National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), described the recognition as both an achievement and a responsibility. In thanking the Choiseul District Disaster Management Committee (CDDMC) and residents for their commitment, she stressed for preparedness resources to be continuously shared and practiced to inform the response of residents and visitors alike.
Mrs. Christa von Hillebrandt-Andrade, Manager, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration International Tsunami Information Centre Caribbean Office (ITIC-CAR), placed the achievement in its broader regional and global context. She highlighted the collaboration among scientists, disaster management officials, community volunteers, and international partners that supported the recognition, while drawing particular attention to Choiseul’s contribution to advancing disability-inclusive preparedness. Ms. Kimberly Maisonet Gonzalez, also of ITIC-CAR focused on other nomination outputs including the ten educational activities which exceeded the TRRP’s requirements, the comprehensive survey mapping of vulnerable populations, and the use of students to refine the community evacuation plan.
Ms. Christy Joseph: a visually impaired member of the Choiseul/Piaye community and participant of the mid-year MG 86 Workshop and community drill, emphasized the importance of including persons with disabilities in preparedness discussions. She thanked NEMO and the CDDMC for ensuring that persons with disabilities were represented in the Tsunami Ready process, reinforcing one of the initiative’s core messages: preparedness must reach everyone.
The ceremony further acknowledged the U.S. Government’s contribution, including U.S. Department of State funding to support ITIC-CAR facilitators, training, and other preparedness activities, and the role of the US Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, Regional Disaster Assistance Program (RDAP) represented by Ms. Ann Jean Baptiste which supported the TRRP initiative through technical assistance and community sensitization activities.
For Choiseul/Piaye, the message from the ceremony was clear: from awareness to readiness and from readiness to action. Stronger Communities. Safer Futures.
