Ladies and gentlemen, the vulnerability of the Caribbean States necessitates continuous investments in disaster risk reduction capacity and capability building if we are to retard or reverse the epidemic of hazard related losses we have experienced over the last decade. To this end, CDEMA wishes to acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Brazil in contributing to the convening of today's capacity building workshop for disaster risk management in the agricultural sector.

Human Services and Gender Relations February 7, 2011.

The Ministry of Health has increased surveillance for infectious disease and has up-scaled vector control activities given the recent trends post Hurricane Tomas.

As indicated previously (in our press release dated January 25, 2011), the Ministry of Health reminds all that we are still at risk for diseases such as dengue fever (transmitted by mosquitoes), Leptospirosis (transmitted by rats and other infected mammals)

Wednesday 15 December 2010 - The Saint Lucian Consulate in Canada based in Toronto has provided an update with respect to its Hurricane Tomas Disaster Response Efforts. Since the passage of Hurricane Tomas, the Canadian Consulate has been engaged in efforts aimed at mobilizing financial and material support for Saint Lucia. One of the first actions taken by the Consulate was the establishment of a Saint Lucia Disaster Relief Fund. This Fund as of December 14th, 2010 stood at CAD $7,652.74.

With respect to material assistance,

Thursday, December 2, 2010 - The government of Guyana has decided to give financial assistance to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Saint Lucia as the two countries continue their recovery efforts after the passage of Hurricane Tomas last month.

Reports from Georgetown state that the government will give US$200,000 to the two countries -US$100,000 each.

The Guyana government has also expressed the hope that the international community would respond to calls by Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for assistance, since the two

Thursday 25 November 2010 - A barge from the neighboring French Territories recently brought in relief items-worth over one hundred thousand Euros-for onward distribution to persons affected by hurricane Tomas.

French Ambassador to the OECS States, Michel Prom, and other officials from the Regional Council of Guadeloupe were on hand at the barge's arrival.

"Regarding Hurricane Tomas, we have sent a team and helicopter in the first day following the hurricane. We also coordinated spontaneous assistance from the French departments of

Tuesday 23 November 2010 - The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) will provide assistance to the Government of Saint Lucia to conduct major upgrades of several school plants on the island under the Basic Education Enhancement Project.

Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Honourable Stephenson King says the project will provide much needed financing to support the recovery of the education sector.

"We have only recently had discussion with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and I have requested them to

Tuesday, November 17, 2010 - The government of Saint Lucia has welcomed with tremendous gratitude a pledge of two hundred and forty thousand Euros from the French Overseas Departments of the Americas towards the country's recovery effort from hurricane Tomas.

In addition to the pledged funds, Martinque, Guadeloupe and French Guyana have donated tonnes of relief supplies which include: food and building materials.

Saint Lucia's Council General to the French Overseas Departments of the Americas Mr Keats Compton says since

Wednesday 3 November 2010 - Following a Public Sector Heads meeting in response to the passage of hurricane Tomas, Prime Minster Hon. Stephenson King announced the measures taken by the Government thus far, including the decision to enforce a declaration of disaster which would allow for certain things to be triggered and to allow specific actions and responses to be taken.

"The permanent secretary and the minister of finance has already made some approaches in indicating to CCRIF which is the Caribbean Catastrophic Risk Insurance Programme to trigger

Tuesday 2 November 2010 - The rebuilding process has began across very District in Saint Lucia following the devastation of Hurricane Tomas.

Contractors and technical crews from the Ministry of Communications, Works, Transport and Public Utilities have been working around the clock to return some level of normalcy to the county's infrastructure.

The Choc and Marisule Bridges which collapsed during the storm have both been rehabilitated to allow for vehicular access to and from the Northern District of Gros-Islet.

Several private crews have also been