Guyana to host Caribbean’s largest disaster management conference in December

Regional and international partners will gather in Georgetown, Guyana, later this year to strengthen collaboration, share knowledge and advance disaster risk management across the Caribbean. These engagements will unfold at the 14th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM 14) that is set for December 7 to 12, 2026 – an event which, Prime Minister (PM) of Guyana, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, says will bolster the region’s disaster resilience. “This year, Guyana is set to host the Comprehensive Disaster Management Conference, the Caribbean’s largest disaster management conference, bringing together regional leaders to advance disaster resilience,” PM Phillips stated.

The CDM is spearheaded by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), which said this premier event will see regional and international experts, policymakers and practitioners come together to explore innovative strategies for disaster management and resilience building in the Caribbean.
PM Phillips made this revelation recently as he reflected on the work done by his office over the past five years and planned initiatives for the future. Among the areas that fall under the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) is disaster management. According to the PM, a nation’s strength is measured by its ability to protect its people in times of crisis as such, he noted that since 2020, the Guyana Government has prioritised disaster preparedness through the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

Civil Defence Commission
“From 2020 to 2023, the CDC demonstrated exceptional response capability,” Phillips declared. This, he pointed out, was demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the CDC established emergency shelters and quarantine facilities. Similarly, he noted that while the 2021 floods tested their resolve, the Commission managed shelters and supported those displaced. Then in 2023, the CDC commissioned the Region Nine Emergency Operations Centre. And when wildfires and El Nino conditions threatened communities, the CDC mounted coordinated operations. The Commission also hosted Exercise Trade Winds in 2023, showcasing Guyana’s growing regional capabilities. Additionally, throughout 2024 and 2025, the CDC maintained continuous operations. Moreover, the CDC Multipurpose Building was commissioned last year as well as hosted MECODEX 2025, an international exercise testing countries’ coordination and decision-making in complex emergencies. Among the Commission’s achievements over the years is the development of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan which was bolstered by a series of national response exercises conducted to strengthen the local burgeoning oil and gas sector. In fact, Guyana’s legal framework for environmental protection was further strengthened with the passage of the Oil Pollution Prevention Act in Parliament last year. This year, PM Phillips said the disaster risk management legislation would be enacted and there will be upgrades to the National Emergency Operations Centre. In addition, plans are afoot to establish more regional operations centres in Regions Eight and Nine. According to the PM, however, central to the Government’s approach is investing in people. To this end, thousands of persons have been trained across all regions in emergency response and disaster risk management since 2020. This capability was on display when Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica in October 2025. Guyana responded immediately with relief supplies and personnel, which also demonstrated the country’s regional solidarity. In fact, Jamaican PM Andrew Holness, just over a week ago commended officers from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) for their professionalism, discipline and tangible impact in the country as it recovers from the natural disaster. A contingent of over 40 members of the GDF’s Engineers Battalion travelled to Jamaica in December 2025 to support post-disaster recovery and reconstruction efforts. PM Phillips went on to assure in his recent update that moving forward, the Guyana Government will continue to invest in disaster risk management, early warning systems and emergency operations to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of people across the country. Citing that a great deal of work lies ahead, the PM stated, “…Through sustained investments in energy security, digital infrastructure, disaster preparedness and human capital development, we are building a resilient, inclusive and prosperous Guyana that will benefit present and future generations.”