FirstCaribbean International Bank is continuing to support hazard mitigation and prevention to the region through its ongoing partnership with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA).

The bank pledged further financial support to CDERA during a brief handover ceremony at the bank's regional head office recently.

FirstCaribbean and CDERA had signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2003, signalling their intention to vastly improve the region's response capability to natural and other disasters.

Under the MOU, the bank annually contributes US$75 000 to CDERA. Areas of collaboration include: support for CDERA's Regional Response Mechanism, a facility for bringing together key response agencies in support of affected states through the establishment of the FirstCaribbean International Bank Disaster Management Fund; and training and certification of builders and artisans to encourage a strengthening of the housing stock to make it more resistant to natural hazard impacts.

It also involves assistance with the production of literature on disaster mitigation and national building codes for homeowners; and a scholarship fund for study in disaster management.

The bank's chief administrative officer and executive director of marketing and human resources, Peter Hall, said: ``We are committed to tangibly supporting our region in its time of need whenever it arises.

``This partnership makes good on our promise to provide assistance to those communities in urgent need of infrastructural and other support.``

To date, three students have been awarded scholarships under the MOU. They are Jamaican Kylah Forbes-Biggs; Leonard Huggins of St Kitts and Nevis and Barbadian Karla Sealy.

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