Barbados??? Roving Response Team is now better equipped to respond to flooding incidents and other emergencies.

That???s because the team was presented with a Mercedes Benz Glenda Wagon vehicle by Director of the Department of Emergency Management (DEM), Judy Thomas, at their Warrens, St. Michael headquarters today.

The vehicle was originally a gift to the DEM from late Prime Minister Errol Walton Barrow 26 years ago. Ms. Thomas said she hoped the vehicle would enhance the continued work of the Roving Response Team.

She explained that a suggestion was made by the Ministry of Finance and it was agreed, to use the van in a useful way after it was replaced by the DEM. That, she said, led to today???s presentation.

The Director said the DEM was closer to formalising a Memorandum of Understanding with the Roving Response Team, and threw out a further challenge for them to incorporate a motorcycle complement as a part of their cadre to allow them to fully access all pockets of the country.

President of the Roving Response Team, Clive Lorde, said they had the pleasure of using the vehicle in the past on several occasions to navigate deep waters, pulling vehicles up steep slopes, pulling trucks and to perform other emergency services.

???The team is grateful to the Department of Emergency Management and the Ministry of Finance,??? he said. Mr. Lorde added that the team was looking forward to building a professional organisation geared towards assisting and responding to emergencies in Barbados and other Caribbean countries.

Meanwhile, discussions are ongoing about the basic terms and conditions to govern the vehicle???s use going forward. In addition, the team has also established contact with a company overseas to ensure that any parts the vehicle needs over the next ten years will be provided.

julia.rawlins-bentham@barbados.gov.bb

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