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Bridgetown, Barbados August 14th, 2020 (CDEMA) - On August 14, the United States Government in partnership with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) launched a new USD $4.5 million initiative entitled “Caribbean Climate Resilience Initiative.” This new initiative will help countries reduce disaster risks as well as absorb and recover from hazard impacts and climate variability.

Montserrat, August 7th, 2020 (CDEMA) - Yellow Hill Road, Montserrat - Montserrat has received a shipment of humanitarian supplies to support the island's national response to the COVID-19 pandemic on Friday, August 7th, 2020 at a handover ceremony at Port Little Bay.

The large consignment of medical devices and supplies was made possible through the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)-Coordinated Integrated Regional Logistics Hub (IRLH), the World Health Organization (WHO), Jack Ma and the United Arab Emirates. This timely donation was a result of a commitment made by the WHO, Jack Ma, the Honourable Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley, Q.C., M.P., and the Director-General of the WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to support the provision of aid supplies to CARICOM.

THE REGIONAL RESPONSE MECHANISM ACTIONS

The CDEMA’s Regional Coordination Centre (RCC) was activated to provide joint coordination of the regional preparedness and response planning operations.

  • The RCC established communications with the Participating States under threat from TS Gonzalo to gain a
    sense of their preparedness.
  • The RCC commenced administrative and logistical arrangements for the possible deployment of teams.
  • Meeting of the Caribbean Development Partners Group (CDPG) were convened and partners received a briefing from the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), CDEMA, CARICOM Institutions present, and the UN Regional Partners.
  • CDEMA refined the regional deployment protocols for a multi-hazard scenario

Georgetown, Guyana August 5, 2020 - Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, last evening, handed over a quantity of essential medical supplies to the Ministry of Health. The items include 5,730 N95 masks, 316,600 surgical masks, 46,250 rapid test COVID-19 kits, 200 overalls and 5,000 gloves.

The supplies were donated to the CDC through a collaborative arrangement with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the World Health Organisation (WHO), Jack Ma Foundation and the United Arab Emirates. Guyana is one of 14 Caribbean territories to receive these supplies.
The hand over was done moments after the supplies arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri on a special cargo flight.

NHC Update

According to the National Hurricane Center ( in Miami, Florida, as of 5 00 PM ( on July 30 2020 the center of Tropical Storm Isaias was located near latitude 19 5 North, longitude 70 6 West Isaias is moving toward the northwest near 20 mph 31 km/h) and a northwestward motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days.

Bridgetown, Barbados July 27th, 2020 (CDEMA) - The World Health Organization (WHO) and Jack Ma Foundation have made a significant donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The shipment of supplies worth over USD$700,000 arrived at the Grantley Adams International Airport on July 26, 2020.

NHC Update

According to the National Hurricane Center ( in Miami, Florida, as of 8 00 PM ( on July 29 2020 the disturbance was centered near latitude 16 0 North, longitude 66 3 West The system is moving toward the west northwest near 18 mph 30 km/h), and this general motion with a reduction in forward speed is expected over the next few days On the forecast track, the system will continue to pass south of Puerto Rico tonight, near or over Hispaniola on Thursday, near eastern Cuba and the southeastern Bahamas on Friday, and approach the northwestern Bahamas and southern Florida Friday night

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph 75 km/h) with higher gusts Some increase in strength is forecast through tonight, with weakening likely on Thursday due to land interaction Some restrengthening is possible by this weekend.

Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for additional development, and a tropical storm is forecast to form tonight

NHC Update

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida, as of 5:00 PM (AST) on July 28, 2020, the disturbance was centered near latitude 14.4 North, longitude 55.9 West. The system is moving toward the west-northwest near 23 mph (37 km/h), and this general motion with some slight reduction in forward speed is expected over the next few days. On the forecast track, the system is expected to move through the Leeward Islands on Wednesday, near or over the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Wednesday night, and near or over Hispaniola on Thursday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is expected during the next 48 hours, and the system is forecast to become a tropical storm tonight or Wednesday.

Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for additional development and a tropical storm is forecast to form tonight or Wednesday.

  • Formation chance through 48 hours...high...90 percent
  • Formation chance through 5 days...high...90 percent

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 230 miles (370 km) primarily to the northeast of the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1007 mb (29.74 inches).

  1. CDEMA Information Note #3 - Tropical Cyclone Gonzalo as of 11:00AM (AST) on July 25th, 2020
  2. CDEMA Information Note #2 - Tropical Cyclone Gonzalo as of 8:00PM (AST) on July 24th, 2020
  3. Critical Personal Protective Equipment Procured for Caribbean Frontline Medical Workers
  4. CDEMA Information Note #1 - Tropical Cyclone Gonzalo as of 5:00PM (AST) on July 23rd, 2020
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