Blessing of Offices of the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction

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Officials at the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction Blessing of New Offices, from left: Isla Deane, Undersecretary; Minster of State, the Hon. Pakesia Parker-Edgecombe; Archdeacon Keith Cartwright; Carl Smith, Permanent Secretary; and Gaye Outten-Moncur, Deputy Permanent Secretary, NEMA. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

The Min. of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction was formed in September 2019 by the government in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. Also formed under its umbrella was the Disaster Reconstruction Authority (DRA), to work in
harmony with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

A mandate of the ministry is to improve the framework for recovery planning in The Bahamas. The ministry recently moved out of the Office of the Prime Minister to its new location on the second floor of Campbell Maritime Centre, West Bay Street. The new offices were blessed by Archdeacon Keith Cartwright during a ceremony, June 3, 2021. He prayed for God’s protection during the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which is projected to be above-average. Among those present were the Minster of State for Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction, the Hon. Pakesia Parker-Edgecombe; Carl Smith, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction; Isla Deane, Undersecretary, Ministry of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction, and Gaye Outten- Moncur, Deputy Permanent Secretary, NEMA.

Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe, who succeeded Minister of State the Hon. Iram Lewis, is the first woman to lead such a ministry. She said she is impressed by the mixture of talent among the staff of the ministry and its agencies — NEMA and the DRA – as the ministry continues to grow into its mandate.

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