The DRM Authority began a three-day Business Continuity Planning Workshop, September 1, 2026 as it launched its Business Resilience Programme to assist business owners in preparing for disasters, disruptions, aftermath and recovery. The workshop is held at the British Colonial, downtown.
Minister of State with responsibility for Disaster Risk Management, the Hon. Mckell Bonaby spoke to the significance and importance of such a programme and workshop for small business owners, who comprise the vast majority of business owners in the country.
“We are here because over the course of the next three days, nearly 100 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises will participate in practical business continuity planning training — designed to strengthen your ability to prepare for disruption, respond effectively when it occurs, and recover as quickly as possible.”
Disruption threats may be hurricane, flooding, power and telecommunication outages, supply-chain disruption, or technology failures. Risks are the same despite the size of the business; but capacity to respond may be very different.
State Minister Bonaby remarked that at the end of the three-day workshop he hopes for the takeaway to be: “Business resilience is your business ability to prepare for disruption, withstand its impact, adapt when circumstances change and recover quickly while continuing to serve customers, employees and the wider community.”
The collaboration of the workshop and its participants began earlier this year with surveys conducted by the DRM Authority and the business community itself. The minister highlighted the fact that when businesses suffer, there’s a ripple effect because of their importance to communities.
He said: “During today’s session, I want you to identify the functions of your business you cannot afford to lose; examine your vulnerabilities; develop practical alternatives and consider how your business can continue operating when normal arrangements are disrupted.”
State Minister Bonaby remarked, the purpose of the Business Resilience Programme is to address the question: “How do we help our business withstand disruption, protect what matters most, continue critical operations and recover more quickly?
“That is the purpose of the Business Resilience Programme.”
Before closing, State Minister Bonaby spoke on topics that are essential to business preparedness that will be dissected within the workshop, and the absolute need for government and private sector to work together.
“Having a plan is important, but knowing that the plan will work is even more important.”
He noted that disaster risk cannot be managed by the government alone: “Government must lead, coordinate and create the conditions for resilience, but resilience must be built within our households, communities, institutions and especially into our businesses. The private sector is therefore not simply a stakeholder that government calls upon after a disaster. You are part of the national resilience system.
“So participate fully today. Ask questions. Challenge assumptions. Be candid about your vulnerabilities.
“Most importantly. Do not leave here simply with more information. Leave here with a plan to act.”
The DRM Authority’s Business Resilience Workshop continues at the British Colonial through September 3.
The workshop launches the Authority’s wider Business Resilience Programme and forms part of a series of interventions being developed in response to findings from the National Business Resilience and Disaster Management Survey.
The sessions support participating micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in identifying critical business functions, assessing vulnerabilities and dependencies, developing practical continuity strategies, clarifying roles and decision-making arrangements, strengthening communications, and building a usable Business Continuity Plan.
The business resilience programme will deploy digital tools and resources to help businesses strengthen, test and improve their resilience beyond the workshops.
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