Businesses prepare for the worst at the B.T.I.A. Disaster Workshop

The Belize Tourism Industry Association is having two days of events, starting today with a Disaster Preparedness Workshop at the Radisson. Its aim is to prepare stakeholders to mitigate the effects of various disasters, including hurricanes, for which the season is now underway. The workshop featured presentations throughout the day from the Belize Tourism Board, National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), the Belize Red Cross as well as a Fire Management International Consultant from the U.S.  B.T.I.A. President, Jim Scott, says disaster preparedness is important for all industries.

Jim Scott, President, B.T.I.A.

“Today’s workshop is about preparing and mitigating risks for any type of local or national disaster.”

Delahnie Bain

Jim Scott

“Why is this important particularly to the tourism industry?”

Jim Scott

“Well, it’s important for all industries really. We all have some type of risk. Just living in our communities, there some type of risk. So it really covers a wide spectrum of those risks; whether it’s a traffic accident, whether it’s a flood, whether it’s a hurricane, there are a number of different things that we cover in terms of preparing for the unexpected.”

Delahnie Bain

“So from the release I know you have an impressive lineup of presentations, can you speak a bit about that?”

Jim Scott

“Yeah, we started off with a gentleman who specializes in risk management, risk assessment. He’s from an outside firm and he does a lot of work in the Caribbean. He’s working with a lot of local authorities like NEMO, the Belize Tourism Board, the Insurance companies, agencies like that that are in the business of mitigating risks. So it’s a very interesting workshop. NEMO’s presentation was very, very interesting because it not only informs you on what government is doping to mitigate risks and damages and so forth and loss, but it also makes you think about our personal responsibility we have for our families, for our businesses and for our communities on having plans of action for the variety of disasters that could take place. We don’t welcome it but better to be prepared than not.”

The activities continue with a cocktail tonight followed by the main event, the Bi-annual General Meeting on Thursday.