THE Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) is celebrating 27 years of yeoman's service to the island. The agency was established in accordance with the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Executive Council Minute No 64 of March 09, 1998.
TEMA is now known as the island’s first responders when it comes to disaster and emergency management. The agency aids in rapid recovery from natural disasters and safeguarding against catastrophes, through proper preparation. It directs its efforts towards maximum preservation of life and protection of property in times of disaster.
Speaking with Newsday on March 11, TEMA’s director Allan Stewart said he joined the agency in 1999, one year after its establishment, as an assistant co-ordinator, before becoming the director in 2011.
“After 2008, there was some restructuring done whereby TEMA was no longer doing a co-ordination role, but because of the restructuring and the enhancement of staff, the concept of a director came into being and therefore there was a director setup. By 2011, I took over from my predecessor until now.”
He said his hope in going forward is to see more emphasis given to the agency.
“We have our own challenges; we have challenges with the ageing of our resources. In a period where we have been told that the (budgetary) allocation is low and therefore when the Assembly is short on funds then you have challenges with replacement and upkeep of equipment and things like that. Our emergency resources are ageing and therefore we would want to see improvements.”
He added: “I think it is high time that we give thought to the area of a multi-sourcing fund for TEMA so that we can access and maintain the level towards that which the Tobago public has grown accustomed to, and these are the innovative ways that we have to look at things going forward.”
[caption id="attachment_1143567" align="alignnone" width="1024"] TEMA director Allan Stewart -[/caption]
In June 2024, over $900,000 was spent to procure three new vehicles which have been added to the fleet at the agency. At a handing-over ceremony at TEMA’s headquarters in Bacolet, Scarborough, on June 21, THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said the agency had not been in receipt of new vehicles since 2011/2012. TEMA, he said, was overdue for new vehicles, promising that the fleet would be further increased when the next financial year started in October.
Supervisor at the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Brian Thomas described that milestone as wonderful.
CERT is the community’s first line of defence during emergencies. They are a dedicated group of trained volunteers who step up to assist when disaster strikes. Objectives include advocating for advanced training and capacity building, developing mobilisation standards, ensuring access to equipment and PPE for CERT teams, and fostering community resilience through inclusion in response plans. They also conduct vulnerability assessments to drive proactive disaster risk reduction initiatives, making communities safer and better prepared for em
