CARIBBEAN-CDEMA to launch CDM14 in Guyana.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados-based Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) says it will officially launch the 14th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM 14) on June 16 in Guyana during a high-level “Launch and Partnership Breakfast”.

“CDM 14 represents more than a conference. It is a regional checkpoint or an opportunity for the Caribbean to assess where we are, confront emerging realities, strengthen partnerships, and accelerate practical solutions that protect lives, livelihoods, economies, and future generations,” said CDEMA executive director, Elizabeth Riley.

CDEMA said that the launch which is being held in collaboration with the Guyana government, will take place under the theme “CDM Road to Resilience – Checkpoint 2026: Resilient Sectors, Sustainable Communities, Safer States,” and that the event will formally introduce the strategic direction, partnership framework, and regional priorities shaping CDM 14, which is scheduled to take place from December 7-12, 2026.

The launch is expected to bring together senior government officials, international development agencies, donor partners, financial institutions, private-sector stakeholders, and regional institutions for a collaborative engagement focused on mobilizing partnerships and strengthening support for the conference and the wider comprehensive disaster management agenda.

“The Caribbean is operating in an era where risk is evolving faster than ever before. Resilience can no longer be viewed as a standalone disaster management issue; it must become central to governance, economic planning, infrastructure development, environmental stewardship, and community empowerment,” said Riley, who spoke of the urgency of strengthening regional resilience systems through coordinated actions and sustained investment.

She said that CDM 14 is also intended to move the regional conversation beyond preparedness into implementation, systems transformation, and measurable resilience outcomes.

Additionally, the launch will serve as a platform to engage with regional and international partners interested in sponsorship, collaboration, technical participation, and strategic engagement leading up to the December conference.