On April 14th, 2021, CARILEC’s Energy Solutions Advisor (ESA), Mr. Thomas Mitschke was deployed as part of the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency’s (CDEMA) Detailed Damage Sectoral Analysis (DDSA) Team in support of the humanitarian efforts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines following the explosive eruptions of La Soufriere volcano that commenced on April 9, 2021. Also comprising the DDSA Team are specialists from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA), Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), Regional Security System (RSS), Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
The CDEMA led team will critically examine the agriculture, health, water, and electricity sectors, which have been prioritised by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines authorities. The team will conduct sectoral analyses on the above-mentioned sectors, which are designed to provide an estimate of damage and loss, aimed at providing guidance on estimating the cost of recovery. The DDSA provides key information that would inform recovery efforts, a report on the extent of damage and identifies direct and indirect costs of sectoral impacts. The intended outcomes of the DDSA include the determination of the types of long-term assistance required, rehabilitation and reconstruction needs of the identified sectors and the provision of data to be used in the quantification of indirect costs.
CARILEC’s Executive Director and Chairman of the CARILEC Disaster Assistance Program (CDAP), Dr. Cletus Bertin, indicated that CARILEC’s addition to the DDSA team is a major priority for the Association, as disaster management is one of the cornerstones of CARILEC’s service to its members. “CARILEC is quite pleased and honoured to offer its support and assistance to the island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines during this challenging period, and more specifically the St. Vincent Electricity Services Limited (VINLEC), a founding utility member of the Association. Moreover, we are committed to collaborating with our regional partners in their efforts towards disaster recovery, amidst the ongoing volcanic eruptions at La Soufriere. It is imperative that we all combine our resources and expertise to emerge even more resilient in the aftermath of this disaster.”
Mr. Mitschke is a highly competent energy expert, project manager and technical advisor, with over fourteen (14) years of experience in his field. He has a track record of proven success, having worked as an Energy Expert in several countries, including Honduras, Belize, Pakistan, Ecuador, Ghana, and Germany.
