Volume1 Issue1 March2013

VOLUME1, ISSUE1 March2013

s it has become established tradi tionoverthepastyears,the5thDe cember marks one of the most im portant celebratory events for volunteers around the world highlighting achieve ments, dedication and solidarity of the countless individuals that seek to improve socialconditionsintheirrespectivehostand homecountries. ForIVD2012,theUNVTrinidadandTobago Field Unit joined forces with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM)toshowappreciationforthevolun teers who have been enrolled in a National Volunteer Programme over the past year. ThesepersonshaveassistedtheODPMand otherMinistriesintimesofneed,mostnota bly in Diego Martin Flood during August 2012. BothUNVandODPMsinitiativeformspart of the wider framework of Comprehensive Disaster Management currently undertaken bytheMinistryofNationalSecuritythrough the ODPM intends to highlight the hugely important contribution that volunteers are making towards community preparedness anddisasterriskreduction.Byholdingjoint celebrationsontheoccasionofIVDhaspro videdanimportantplatformforshowcasing theworkandtheimpactofvolunteeraction onatopicthatisvitaltothesustainablede velopmentofTrinidadandTobago.

ODPMNationalVolunteerAppreciationCeremony InternationalVolunteersDay(IVD)2012inT&T
Staging IVD celebrations on the 8th has giventhereforeanopportunitytointerpret the 2012s motto of Celebrating Volun teering through the prism of citizen driven disaster risk management initia tives.Theeventwascoveredbythemedia and included speeches from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Deputy representative Mr. Henri FrancoisMorandandtherepresentativeof theODPMMr.VijaiMahabir.

Insidethisissue:
IVD2013 RemarksonIVD MarinaKobzeva ImportantDates Carnival2013 Volunteeringfor KiddiesCarnival VoiceofUNV VictorReyes 14 3 4 56 6

OurNewLittleUNV 77 2Yearsafterthe 3/11Earthquakein Japan

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Every year, hundreds of millions of people around the world volunteer their time and effort to help others.Thecorevaluesof volunteerismstrivingfor the common good in a spirit of solidarity and without e x p e c t i n g material reward are shared universally across cultures, languages, and religions.

UNDPAdministrator HelenClark ontheoccasionof InternationalVolunteerDay

RepresentativesoftheOfficeofDisasterPreparednessandManagement(ODPM),theUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme, theUnitedNationsVolunteersProgrammeandtheODPMNationalVolunteerson8thDecember2012attheODPM.Duringthe VolunteerAppreciationCeremony,volunteercertificates,ODPMUNDPvolunteervestsandtheUNVmugswereawardedto80 NationalODPMVolunteers.

Left: Dr. Francisco Roquette : UNV Senior Portfolio Manager Latin American / Carib beanDevelopmentDivision

Mr.HenriFranoisMorand:UNDPResidentRepresentativea.i., maderemarksonhisformerUNVcolleagueswhowerekilledinanarmed attackduringtheUNDPmissioninKabul,AfghanistanonOctober2009. Hesaidthevictimswereviciouslykilledastheysoughttoservethepeo pleofAfghanistanbuttheirsacrificewillnotbeforgotten.Allparticipants observedaminuteofsilenceintributetothevictims. Center:UNVT&TFieldUnit

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RemarksonIVD:UNVProgrammeManagerMarinaKobzeva NationalCapacityDevelopmentforDisasterRiskat theOfficeofDisasterPreparednessandManagement

herehasbeenanincreasedattentiontonaturaldisastersaroundtheglobeinthelast decade.Climatechangeandongoingurbanizationhavebeencontributingtoincreased vulnerabilityofthetwinislandrepublicofTrinidadandTobagooverthepastyears.Thena tionalOfficeforDisasterPreparednessandManagement(ODPM)seekstopromotearesil ientnationwhosecontinuousprotectionfromnewandexistingthreats,posedbyallnatural andmanmadehazards,isintegratedintoroutinepracticesofindividuals,communities,gov ernment and public and private sector businesses. The ODPMs Comprehensive Disaster ManagementPolicyFrameworkhasintegratedtheUnitedNationInternationalStrategyfor DisasterReductions(UNISDR)HyogoFrameworkforAction;thelatterencouragesnations to develop specific mechanisms to engage the active participation and ownership of rele vantstakeholders,includingcommunities,indisasterriskreduction,inparticularbuildingonthespirit ofvolunteer ism. InthelightofthisthedevelopmentofaNationalVolunteerProgrammewasseenasvitaltoachievingcomprehensive disastermanagementgoals.Subsequently,in2010,theVolunteerProgrammewasdesigned,withitspurposetoallow members of the community; public, private and civil sectors to take ownership of their communities vulnerabilities andengageinriskreductionandmanagementpractices.ThemainobjectiveoftheODPMsNationalVolunteerPro grammeistoestablishamechanismthroughwhichvolunteerscanoffertheirtime,effortsandskillsatvariousphases ofdisastermanagementcycle.TheODPMhaspledgedtoprovidethesevolunteerswithdisastermanagementrelated trainingandemergencyskillswhichwillenablethemtosupportstakeholdersandtheircommunitiestimesofdisas ter. Primaryemphasiswillbeplacedontheresponseandrecoveryphaseofdisastersandthemajorityofvolunteerswillbe chargedwithassignedtasksandresponsibilitiesthatareintendedtoenhancetheresponsecapabilitiesandrecovery mechanismsoftheODPM.ButitwasdecidedthatwithineachphaseoftheDisasterRiskManagementCycle,volun teerswillbeabletoplayanactiverole. TheODPM launchedamediacampaignandcommunityoutreachprogrammeandbytheendof2011,morethana hundredofinterestedcitizens,readyandwillingtodonatetheirtimeandskills,respondedtothecallandcomprehen sivevolunteertraining,proceededbyabriefselectionandrecruitmentphase,begun.Inordertoachievebestresult and make the training as effective and interactive as possible the volunteers were divided into four manageable groups.In2012,overthecourseof10monthstheyreceivedtrainingfromtheODPMsownskilleddisastermanagers inthebasicsofGeneralHazardAwareness,DisasterManagementCycle,VulnerabilityandCapacityAssessment,Ini tialDamageAssessmentandNeedsAnalysis,DamageandLossAssessment, Logistics Management, Use of Radio and emergency communications, Incident Command System, Shelter Management and First Psychological Aid and CommunitybasedPsychosocialSupport. Atthenextstage,thevolunteerswhosuccessfullycompletedtheinitialtrainingwillbeofferedtospecializeinoneor twoareasofdisastermanagementandtocontinuetheirindepthtrainingoverthecourseof2013.FirstaidandCPR trainingwillbegiventoallvolunteersandafterthenecessarytrainingisreceivedbyeachvolunteergroup,theywillbe issuedbasicequipmenttoensureefficiencyoftheirassignedduties.TorrentialrainandflashfloodsthathittheWest of Trinidad in August 2012 led the ODPM test their volunteers and their support to the Local Government and the ODPMininitialdamageassessmentandsheltermanagementwasgreatlyappreciated. InDecember2012,togetherwithUnitedNationsVolunteersinTrinidadandTobago,theODPMorganizedasimula tionexercisetocommemoratetotheInternationalVolunteerDayandtestvolunteersknowledgeinthefield.Their performanceandcommitmentwereexceptional.ThedayendedwithaCeremonyofVolunteerAppreciation,hosted bytheODPMandUNV.TheODPM'sVolunteerPolicystillneedstobeupdatedandfinalized,manyorganizational, administrativeandinsuranceissuesneedtobediscussedandimproved,thevolunteersstillhavealottolearn.Butone canbesuresayingthatasof2012nationalvolunteershavebecomeanintegralpartofdisastermanagementinTrini dadandTobago.
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VolunteerFairinPortofSpain:December5th2012
n December 5th 2012, the Volunteer Fair to cele brate International Volunteer Day and to promote volunteerismandhighlighttheworkoflocalNGOs inTrinidadandTobagotookplaceonBrianLaraPromenade betweenChaconandFrederickStreet.InitiatedbytheVol unteerConnection,alocalorganizationwhichconnectsvol unteerstothenetworkoflocalNGOs,10localNGOsaswell as the United Nations Volunteers Programme participated intheoccasion.Itwassuchasuccessfuleventthathundreds ofpedestriansstoppedbytoaskquestionsandtoexchange ideas.ManyhavesignedupasavolunteerforlocalNGOs.

IMPORTANTDATES TOREMEMBER

March202013InternationalDayofHappiness April21~2013T&TNationalVolunteerWeek

DidYouKnow?InternationalDayofHappiness

n 28thJune2012, the United Nations passed a resolution designating March 20th International Happiness Daytopromotehappinessasauniversalgoalandaspirationinthelivesofhumanbeingsaroundtheworld. TheinitiativewastakenbytheHimalayankingdomofBhutanwhichalreadyhasitsowngrossnationalhappi nessindex(formoredetails,visithttp://www.grossnationalhappiness.com).So,howcanyoubestcommemo ratethisday?Atpersonallevel,youcanfocusonyourownpersonalhappiness,suchasgetplentyofsleepor goshopping.IwouldstopbyatHagenDazsandhave2scoopsofstrawberryicecreamontheclassicsugar cones! Or you can try to develop practices that bring happiness into your life, such as practice an attitude of gratitudeandspeak with kindnesses. Youcanalsogoalittle further anddo somethingthatresonateswith youtomaketheworldabetterplace.Thiscouldbeanythingfromsayinghitoanyoneyoupassontheside walktodoingonesmallthingtohelptheplanetofEarth.Soletsgettocelebrating!Smile!!!! Ifyouwantotherstobehappy,practicecompassion.Ifyouwanttobehappy,practicecompassion. DalaiLama
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UNV/UNDPJointProgramme
nSaturday2ndFebruary2013,theUNVFieldUnitinTrinidadandTobagoincollaborationwiththeUNDPsup portedChildren'sCarnival2013.ThepurposeofthepartnershipwastohighlightandstrengthentheUNpresence inTrinidadandTobagoas wellastopromoteawarenessonvolunteerismanditscontributiontodevelopment andpeace.Accordingly,theUNVFieldUnitselectedMr.GerardKellysChildrensCarnivalBand,atotallyfun inspired band exclusively designed with the kids in mind. Over the past 13 years, Mr. Kelly has earned a vast wealth of knowledgeandexperiencethroughhisyearsofdevotionanddedicationtotheChildrenscarnival.Thespiritofthevolun teerismalsoencouragedhimtoensurethatthelessfortunatechildrengetatasteofthenationalfestival;aseveryyearhe hasbeensponsoringasectionforkidsatvariousHomesandInstitutions.Thisyearhisthemewasintributetohiscountry, TrinidadandTobago,PreserveOurHeritageIloveMyCountry. ThroughUNDPfunding,theUNVFieldUnitproducedthe150TshirtsandthefrontbannerforMr.Kellyscarnivalband.In addition,theUNVFieldUnitaswellastheUNDPstaffmembersspenthoursathiscarnivalmasscamp,helpingtocreating andputtingthefinishingtouchesonchildrenscarnivalcostumes.

SupportforChildrensCarnival2013

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VolunteeringforKiddiesCarnival
yinitialimpressiononmyarrivalattheGerardKellymascamponHunterStreet,Woodbrook, wasoneofapprehension.Giventhatmyvisittothecampwasameretwodaysbeforethe scheduledparadeofthebandstheatmosphereatthecampwashecticandsomewhatchaotic.The campitselfwassmallasMr.Kellywasutilizingasingleroominanofficebuildingforthefabricationof thebandscostumes.Itwasstrewnwithallmannerofcloth,tubing,rollsofwireandotherparapher naliausedintheartofcostumemaking.Itwasquiteclearattheonsetthatourassistancewasgreatly appreciated and much needed. I was quickly assigned by Mr. Kellys aide, Rhonda, to glue strips of fabric to make straps for back pieces. Upon completing the assigned task I was then asked to affix decorationstoheadspieces.Some5hourslaterIwasheadywiththefumesofcontactcementbut morethanpleasewithsomeofmycreations.ThoughbeingfromTrinidad,theentireexperienceof creatingcarnivalcostumeswassomethingnewtome.Rhondatoldmethatthetruejoyfromallthe workinvolvedwouldbefeltonthedayoftheeventwhenoneseesthekidsinfullcostumeparadingin thestreetsandenjoyingthemselves.

Mr.LyndonWright UNDPProgramme

incethisbeingmyfirstcarnivalever,Ididntknowwhattoexpect.ButwhenIvisitedthemass camptooffermyvolunteerwork,Iwasamazedtolearnthatcarnivalcostumemakingisalabor intensivehandmadeartworkfromstarttofinish,andthetime,creativityandloveputintothechil drenscarnivalcostumesjustoverwhelmedme.Havingsaidthat,seeinghundredsofchildrenactu allyintheirbeautifulcostumes,lookingcheerfullyandproudlyonthestage,hasabsolutelymademe appreciatemorethetimeIspentatthemasscamp.Itwastrulytheirtimetoshineintheircarnival costumes!IstillhavealottolearnaboutthecarnivalcultureinTrinidadandTobagobutIbelieveit strengthens childrens connection with important aspects of their cultural heritages as well as with theirfamiliesandcommunities.UNVFieldUnitwillcontinuetosupporttheeventsandactivitiesthat Ms.HitomiUrushihata promoteyouthdevelopmentinthelandofcarnival. UNVProgrammeOfficer

A Special Thanks to those Good People who voluntary helped the costume making at the mass camp!

Mrs.IseleRobinsonCooper,UNDPProgrammeOfficer

Ms.RosemaryLall,UNDPProgrammeOfficer
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alfwaythroughmyoneyearassignmentinTrinidadandTobago,thebalancesofarisdefini tivelypositive.IaminchargeofmanagingaprojecttodevelopaNationalCorporateSocial Responsibility policy in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment. Yes,quiteamouthfulanddefinitelyquiteachallenge.Ataprofessionallevelacceptingthisposition gavemealottoreflectupon.IsCSRjustawayforlegitimizingbusinesstooperateaccordingtofair laborornoncorruptpracticesonavoluntarybasis?IsCSRjustanotherwayofreducingtheresponsi bilityofthegovernmenttowardsitsconstituents?Chancesarethatthistextwouldhaveanotherau thorifthatwasthecase. Ichosethispositionfortheopportunitytosignificantlyimpactthelivesofthosewithfewopportunities.Iaddemphasisto opportunityastrueimpactwillhappenwhencompaniesincorporatethenotionofresponsibilitybeingnotlimitedtotheir board.Thiscouldmeanenhancedproduction,moreskilledworkforce,bettercommunitiesandthelistgoeson.Inanaggre gatedeffect,enablingcorporationstogobeyondbusinessasusualcanfostersustainablegrowth.Achievingsuchimpactis ofcoursebiggerthanmyassignmentbutitturnsoutthatthroughthisprojectwecantriggerchange. Aswithanypolicyexercisethereisagreatdealofworktobedone.Research,interviews,discussionsandmanagementof differentinterestsareallpartofthedaytodayworkroutine.Thereisgreatbuyinfromdifferentsectorsofsocietyandit seemsweareontherighttrack.Itisalsotruethatmuchofthiseffortwillbeinvisibleinthefinalpolicydraft,butasdiscour agingasthatcanbenogoodpolicyhasevercomeoutofasuccinct,desktopbasepolicyprocess.Itsalsofairtosaythatan International UNV experience has more to it than the professional opportunity. It is a chance to experience reality me it meansexperiencingthatappendixsomeregionalorganizationsliketoaddtoitsnameLatinamericaANDtheCaribbean asifitwereone.ItisclearformethattheCaribbeanisaworldtoitself,withaculturewithmuchtoofferandconditionsthat differgreatlyfromitsclosecontinentalneighbors.Thatofcourseisnotacallfordistancingbothbutperhapsintegration effortsshouldnotbebuiltongeographicalclosenessbutonthecommondesiretorespectandvalueouridentities.

VoiceofUNVolunteer:CSRPolicyProjectManagerVictorReyes

WelcometotheworldMr.NewenEzequielReyes OurNewLittleUNV!!!!!
uite an event, for me or anyone I suppose, the birth of my first son, Newen has changedmylifeinmorelevelsthanIexpected.Inoneofthoseparentingbooks,most ofthemwrittenformothersImustsay,IbecameinterestedwiththefollowingstatementIs theparentswhoneedtolearnfromtheirchildrenandsupportthedevelopmentoftheirper sonalities.Onemaybeskepticalaboutwhatcanbelearnedfromanindividualwhosleeps andeats80%ofhistime,butgoingthroughtheprocesscanhelptoputthingsinperspec tive.Firsttimeparentsmayhavesomedifficultiesintheadaptationprocessofgoingfrom2 to3,itrequiresmuchmoreeffortthanonewouldthink.Yet,weoftenforgetthatbabiesare reallytheoneswiththehardpart.IfyouthinkaboutittheyNEEDneedassomethingre quiredforsurvival,notasthelatestSmartphoneourattention,ourtimeandfulldedication. Yes,Iamjumpinginthebandwagonwithallthemothers,whoarereallydemanded,butwefathershaveastakeheretoo. Beingabroadaddsalayerofamusementtothewholeparentingentanglement.Gettingtoknowthelocalparentingtradi tions,differentapproachestowhatisgoodforbabies,suggestionsforthosebadnights;itallmakestheexperiencericher. Beinginvolvedintheexpatworldcomesalsowithexposuretoothercouplesfromaroundtheworldgoingthroughthe same experience, becoming another source of information, experience exchange and support. We are glad to be going throughthispartofourlivesinabeautifulandhealthyenvironment;Newenhasenjoyedthegoodweatherandtheweek endbeachvisit.Wemightholdonalittlebitbeforeexposinghimtothelocalcuisine,mostlythepepper,buthewillsurebe thedelightedwiththelocalfruits.Iamalittlehesitantabouttheimmigrationofficerwhowillhavetostamppassportsfrom allovertheworld.ItsnoteverydaythatyoufindaTriniboywithanEcuadorianfatherandaSwedishmother,butletsdeal withthatwhenthetimecomes.Fornowthetrilingualenvironmentoffersmultiplelullabyoptions!
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TheGreatEarthquakeandTsunamiTwoYearsOn DisasterandVolunteerisminJapan
nternationalVolunteerDay2012incollabora tion with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) had a special meaning for me. On March 11 2011, my home country Ja panwashitbyacatastrophicmagnitude9.0earth quake, the largest ever recorded in Japan and the fifth most powerful earthquake in the world. The earthquaketriggeredaseriesofdevastatingtsuna mis,inundatingmanyandannihilatingsomeentire coastalcommunitieswithwavesupto133fthigh. ThebeautifulbeacheswhereIspenttimewithmy family and friends when I was a child were com pletely perished without a trace. The earthquake and tsunami also caused extensively severe struc turaldamage,includingheavedamagetoroadsandrailwaysaswellasfiresinmanyareas.Inthemidstofthewinter season,around4.4millionhouseholdswereleftwithoutelectricityand1.5millionwithoutwaterforweeks.Myfamily was no exception. Communication systems also broke down which led the Japanese society in utter chaos. Emer gencycallstothepoliceandfirestationswereneverreachedordelayed.Mycousinwholivedneartheepicenterre mainedmissingforaweek. AsofSeptember2012,thedeathtollstoodat15,870,withafurther2,814recordedasmissing.129,433buildingswere completely destroyed and approximately 330,000 people are still displaced. Today, Japan still suffers from after shocksoftheMarch11earthquake.Eachofthoseaftershockskeepsremindingusthescaleoftheearthquakeand tsunamiwehaveexperiencedandtriggerstraumaticmemoriesresemblingahorriblenightmare.SinceMarch11,Ja panexperiencedover1,000aftershocks,with80registeringovermagnitude6.0andthreeofwhichwereovermagni tude7.0. Japansvulnerabilitytoearthquakesandtsunamisiswellknown.Japanissubjectivetoabout20.5%earthquakewith themagnitude6.0ormore,andisinaconstantstateofreadinessforthearrivalofthebigone.Infact,tsunamisso frequentlyoccurredinJapan,weinventedthewordspecificallyforthephenomenon:tsumeaningharborandnami meaningwave.Believeitornot,6outof10worsttsunamisofalltimeoccurredinJapan.Asaresult,Japanhasbe comeanationwhereearthquakeandtsunamidrillsarepartoftheculture.Thelevelofindividualpreparednessvaries, butmajorityofhouseholdskeepabasicearthquakesurvivalkit.Wehaveadoptedvariousdisastermanagementre lated laws and have developed nationprefecturalmunicipal level disaster management system. The nation has a stateofarttsunamiwarningsystemandhasbecomeoneofthebestcountriesbetterpreparedfortheworstdisas trousscenario.Inaddition,thehardshipsofhorribledisastersinthepastbroughttheJapanesepeopletogetherina senseofunityandhelpedtodevelopthebondinaselfsacrificingattitudetowardseachotherintheformofvolun teerism. The1995Kobeearthquakekilled5,500peopleandbroughtasignificantchangeinthehistoryofvolunteerisminJa pan. Approximately 1.2 million volunteers were involved in relief efforts from all over Japan converged on Kobe to helpvictimsofthequake,makingtheyear1995aturningpointintheemergenceofvolunteerismasamajorformof civicengagement.Thespiritofvolunteerismhasdevelopedovertheyearsandthroughnumeroustragicexperiences
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onceagainunitedtheJapaneseafterMarch11bybring ing over a million people responding by volunteering theirtime,energyandcompassiontoassisttheaffected communities.TheresilienceoftheJapanesepeople,re flected by the massive volunteer mobilization in the area,broughthopetotheaffectedcommunitiesaswell as to the grieving nation as a whole. It is equitably im portant to mention that many international volunteers who have never set foot in Japan before boldly made theirwayforthecause.Whethertheywerenationalor international volunteers, people left their lives behind, came together to work tirelessly in extreme conditions andtheybroughthopetothedamagedcommunities.Ourcountryalsoreceivedgenerousemotionalsupportfromall overtheworld.AttheNationalDayReceptionheldattheJapaneseAmbassadorsResidenceonDecember,theHon ourableWinstonDookeran,MinisterofForeignAffairsofTrinidadandTobago,toldthegueststhatimmediatelyafter receivingthenewsoftheeventthatshooktheworld,peopleinChaguanasgatheredtogetherandprayedforJapan. ThoseactsofloveandencouragementfromallovertheworldmeantalottotheJapanesepeople. AsIwasattheVolunteerAppreciationCeremonyattheODPM,thereweremanythingsgoingthroughmymind.I thought about the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, about thousands of volunteers tirelessly working for the af fectedcommunitiesandaboutthoseworkersattheFukushimanuclearplantliterallyriskingtheirlivestosaveJapan.I was recalling numerous stories on how the most people saved were rescued by relatives and neighbours within the first24hoursbeforeprofessionalrespondersreachedthere.Theincidentanditsaftermathhadproventhatthelocal communitiesarethefirstresponderstotakeactionandsavecountlesshumanlivesrightafterthedisastrouseventhit. Whilelocalandnationalauthoritieshavekeyresponsibilitiesforcivilprotectioninhazardevents,communitieshave alwaysbeenthefirstrespondersandthefirstrescuers. Ialsothoughtaboutnaturaldisastersthathadtakenplaceandaffectedthousandsofpeoplearoundtheworld;earth quakesinHaiti,SichuanChinaandSolomonIslands,tsunamisinIndonesiaandThailand,floodsinNewOrleans,Paki stanandBrazil,droughtinEthiopia,KenyaandSomaliaandhurricaneSandywhichdevastatedportionsoftheCarib bean,theMidAtlanticandNortheasternUnitedState.Europeisnoexception,thecontinenthasbeenhitbyaseries ofcoldaswellasheatwaveskillinghundredsofpeopleeveryyear.Naturaldisasterscanhappenanytimeandany where, each time causing great emotional distress. Coping with such traumatic distress is not easy, just as it takes timetocleartherubbleandrepairthedamage;ittakesevenlongertimetorecovertheemotionalequilibrium.The aftermath of the March 11 Earthquake as well as other disastrous events around the world, volunteers are not only dedicatingtheirtimeandskillsforrestorationandreconstructionpurposebuttheyalsoplayagreatroleinassisting thehealingandrehabilitatingprocessofthevictimsbybrininghopeandlovetothedevastatedcommunities. Attheveryendoftheceremony,oneofthenationalODPMvolunteersgavebeautifulremarksontheoccasionbysay ingwearetrained,wearewillingtobetrainedandweareavailable247,365days.Ifanythinghappensinourbeau tifultwinislandsofTrinidadandTobagowewillbereadyandhonoredandpreparedtorespondandtoensurethatthe livesarenotlost.Volunteerismisnotformoney,fameorfortunebuttobeabletogooutthereanddosomethingfor mankind.IwouldliketocongratulatethenationalODPMvolunteersforbecominganintegralpartof disastermanagementinTrinidadandTobagoandIdohopetheycontinuetheircommitmenttothe principle. HitomiUrushihata UNVProgrammeOfficer,UNDPTrinidadandTobago

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