Two hundred and seventy-five young persons from different parishes have completed a four-week training programme in emergency management and mitigation at the National Youth Service (NYS) training site, Chestervale campus, St Andrew.

Packages and awards were presented to the graduates at a closing ceremony held last Wednesday. Guest speaker was Kingston Mayor Desmond McKenzie.

The programme was organised by the NYS, in collaboration with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), and other stakeholders including the Red Cross, fire brigade, constabulary force and the Jamaica Defence Force.

teams ready

Speaking at the NYS' fourth graduation ceremony programme director of the NYS, Howard Gardener, said, "Since 2006, the NYS has trained more than 1,200 individuals from vulnerable communities in the island, ready to be engaged in terms of disaster mitigation and disaster management," he said.

He said participants would be attached to disaster committees in their respective parishes for a period of six months, during which time they would receive a stipend from the NYS.

Additionally, he said, participants would be provided with further "enrichment training courses" and attend disaster-training workshops organised by ODPEM.

Gardener, who represented the executive director of the NYS, Rev Adinhair Jones, called on the graduates to share their knowledge with their communities.

He also urged them to continue to serve their communities after their placement period.