National Security Secretariat assumes leadership of DDME

A recent re-assignment of its lead ministry has enhanced the Department of Disaster Management and Emergency’s (DDME) capacity to build the TCI’s disaster resilience and risk reduction objectives.

On January 19, National Security Secretariat (NSS), Permanent Secretary, Tito Lightbourne welcomed the DDME team to the NSS and shared his expectation for the Department.

He said the department realignment will provide a more significant opportunity for the Secretariat to support DDME as the lead institution designed to build and facilitate resilience throughout the Government to protect the TCI.

In addition, the Secretariat will support the DDME in the coordination and strategic realization of risk reduction objectives on a national level.

Lightbourne stated: "The Secretariat’s mission is to support DDME's priorities for action and ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation.

“Together we will help facilitate the mission of strengthening existing resources and established practices for more effective disaster risk reduction.”

Previously, DDME fell under the Ministry of Immigration and Border Services.

Reflecting on his experience overseeing the DDME under the Immigration Ministry, Deputy Permanent Secretary Emilio Seymour stated that he now has a greater appreciation for disaster risk management on a national level and the vast scope of work the department aims to achieve.

Following lessons learnt from the national response to Hurricane Fiona, Seymour pledged to continue advocating for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in TCI by encouraging every department under the ministry’s portfolio to allocate a dedicated budget line to invest in mitigation and preparedness to support emergency and disaster operations.

Allison Gordon, Director of DDME thanked to the Ministry of Immigration and Border Services for their support and guidance to DDME.

She stated: "The DDME is off to a great start with our new parent, The National Security Secretariat. We rewarding a very productive as