Beginning on May 8, Brazil will hold courses in BrasÀlia, Florianópolis, Recife, and Rio de Janeiro for 22 technicians from nine Caribbean countries to study activities related to Civil Defense.
According to the Itamaraty (Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Relations), the decision to lend a hand to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was taken after a Brazilian mission visited countries in the region and identified an urgent need to establish a cooperation agreement with the Caribbean countries in the area of Civil Defense. The region is susceptible to natural disasters.
The Brazilian government helped Granada in 2004, after the island was hit by hurricane Ivan. At the time, Brazil’s Ministry of Health sent kits containing 700 kilograms of basic medicines and special rehydration solutions, which the Brazilian Air Force delivered to the capital, Saint George’s.
The "Technical Cooperation in Civil Defense" course, which will give the Caribbeans training in Civil Defense, will be coordinated by Itamaraty’s Central American Division and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), in conjunction with the Ministry of National Integration.
The course will be attended by technicians from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, St. Kitts – Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Lucia, together with technicians from the National Security System.
According to Wladimir Valler Filho, cabinet chief for the director of the ABC, the course was set up to meet the demands expressed by the countries during the Brazilian mission’s visit to the Caribbean region and is geared to areas of common interest.
"Furthermore, the World Cricket Cup will be held in the West Indies in 2007, and the countries there expect to receive around 100,000 visitors."
Agência Brasil
