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The new Disaster Risk Manangement Bill 2007 will replace the outdated Hurricane Safety Act 1973 which only focuses on cyclones.
The new DRM Bill will cover all types of hazards both natural and man made. The focus in the new Bill has shifted from how to response to a disaster to actually dealing with how to prevent the disaster from happening OR preparing and mitigating the effect of a disaster.
Charles Carlson the Director of the Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI) at the Office of the Prime Minister, says that having a new Act in place will certainly enhance EMCI and all other agencies in their response to an emergency or a disaster.
Although the Cook Islands Parliament will reconvene in November its not certain at this stage whether the new Disaster Risk Management Bill 2007 will be tabled but Carlson has high hopes it will be.
"It's long overdue and we have to move quicky with the times," he said.
Source: Govmedia |
