Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction
The Government of Guyana, through the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) recently convened a National Consultative Workshop to launch the Early Warning for All (EW4ALL) and take stock on the status of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) in Guyana. This landmark workshop that took place during the period June 24 to 26, 2025, brought together national stakeholders and regional and international partners to enhance Guyana’s national framework for early warning and disaster preparedness and response.
The event opened with welcome remarks from Colonel Nazrul Hussain, Director-General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), followed by opening remarks by Ms. Jean Kamau, UN Resident Coordinator to Guyana. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Alfred King, Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister, whose address reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening national resilience and promoting climate adaptation through early warning systems to save and protect lives.
The workshop forms part of Guyana’s ongoing efforts to build a comprehensive, people-centred Early Warning System (EWS), aligned with international good practices. The aim is to ensure timely alerting protocols and effective preparedness and response measures to safeguard lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure from the impacts of multiple hazards.
Key themes of the workshop included:
- Improved institutional coordination for early warning at the national and local levels;
- Integrated approach to multi-hazard risk knowledge, monitoring and forecasting, preparedness and response, and governance;
- Enhancing warning dissemination and communication protocols using multiple platforms, including common altering protocol, digital alerts, cell broadcasting, community radios, SMS, and other high- and low-tech solutions;
- Empowering vulnerable and marginalized communities through training and inclusive planning;
- Aligning national actions with global frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
During the three days workshop, participants reviewed preliminary gaps identified for Guyana based on the globally adopted EW4All Checklist for Gap Analysis. Participants also discussed strategies and approaches to operationalise an integrated and sustainable EWS that addresses multiple hazards within the Guyana context.
Guyana is currently confronting heightened climate variability and an increase in disaster risks. This workshop represents a critical advancement in ensuring that all individuals have access to EWS and are adequately prepared for potential disasters, emphasising the importance of inclusivity in these efforts.