The protection of human life, as well as the extensive property and historical records owned by the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands will be focus of a half-day workshop on Disaster Preparedness to be  held tomorrow (July 31) at the St. Luke’s Church Hall in Cross Roads, Kingston .

Designed especially for clergy, church workers, plant managers and other persons responsible for Church infrastructure and assets, the Workshop will be conducted in association with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM). It will be officially opened at 10.00 a.m. by the Suffragan Bishop of Mandeville, the Rt. Rev. Harold Daniel.

Guidelines for the protection of the Church’s vast collection of heritage materials, some of which are more than 200 years old, will be addressed in a presentation by Mr. John Aarons, Archivist for the Diocese of Jamaica; while the Suffragan Bishop of Montego Bay, the Rt. Rev. Howard Gregory, will focus on the management of post-event trauma.  Amid forecasts of a very active 2010 hurricane season, Miss Coleen Douglas, Assistant Training Manager, ODPEM, will update participants about Planning and Preparedness at the National Level and the Agency’s Director General, Mr. Ronald Jackson, will lead the discussion on Welfare and Relief Processes.
 
The Diocese’s Director of Missions and Ministry, Mrs. Carmen Bromley, said the workshop was expected to reinforce the measures included in the Diocesan Disaster Plan, which is aimed at helping the Church’s institutions to cope for at least three days without external assistance, and ensure a speedy return to normal operations, in the event of a disaster. The Plan, which also covers response to earthquake, fire and civil disturbances, provides a practical guide for the protection of  Diocesan facilities, including churches, church halls, rectories, schools Children’s Homes, Residences for the Aged, the Nuttall Memorial Hospital and the Hillcrest Diocesan Retreat Centre in St. Ann .