Tropical Shipping hosts disaster preparedness workshop
Jun 20, 2025
Major Lakshman Persaud from the CDC making his presentation
Kaieteur News – Tropical Shipping on Wednesday hosted a disaster management workshop at here attracting more than 70 representatives from emergency service agencies, businesses, and tourism organisations.
Under the theme “Beyond the Storm: Strengthening Private-Public Partnership for Resiliency,” the workshop was held at the Marriott Hotel.
In a press release, Tropical Shippping said the workshop was aimed at building private-public partnerships to enhance Guyana’s resiliency after a disaster strikes. “As a shipping company, we recognise the essential role that strong private-public partnerships play in effective disaster management,” said Tropical Shipping Country Manager Glenis Hodge.
“Prior to a natural disaster, close coordination with government agencies enables us to anticipate disruptions, strategically position resources, and support preparedness efforts. In the aftermath, this collaboration becomes even more critical, facilitating the swift reopening of ports, restoring supply chain operations, and ensuring the timely delivery of essential goods such as food, water, and medical supplies to affected communities,” Hodge added.
Meanwhile, Major Lakshman Persaud, Preparedness & Response Manager of the Guyana Civil Defence Commission in remarks stressed that partnerships are critical for effective disaster preparedness and response. “In pre-disaster preparedness, useful networks can be identified or built with key persons trained for specialist roles in disaster management. In response to a disaster, the private sector can mobilize resources and finances for the response, including specialists such as medical, aviation, technology, etc., who will aid response actions in the affected areas.”
Partners and organizations that attended the workshop included:
- Ms. Kathy Smith, President, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI)
- Mr. Komal Singh, Chairman, Shipping Assoc. of Guyana
- Mr. Rafeek Khan, President, Guyana Manufacturing & Services Assoc. (GMSA)
- Ms. Dee George, President, Tourism & Hospitality Assoc. of Guyana
- Major Lakshman Persaud, Preparedness & Response Manager,
Civil Defense Commission of Guyana
- Mr. Chandradat Chintamani, General Manager, Muneshwers Ltd.
- Mr. Shane Ram, CEO, Shane Ram Coaching & Consulting
- Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, Deputy Executive Director of
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)
- Professor Roy Watlington (retired), University of Virgin Islands
(From L-R) Natasha Mustapha-Scott, Regional Manager (S.E. Caribbean), Glenis Hodge, Country Manager Guyana, Tropical Shipping, Jennifer Nugent-Hill, Senior Director of Governmental and Community Affairs, Tropical Shipping, Chandradat Chintamani, General Manager, Muneshwers Limited
Tropical Shipping said that it has held annual disaster preparedness workshops throughout the Caribbean for more than 25 years. The sessions focus on how communities can develop recovery plans so businesses, schools, and governments can resume operations after a major hurricane or event.
“This powerful partnership ensures more effective preparedness, rapid response, and resilient recovery efforts, ultimately saving lives and speeding up rehabilitation and reconstruction for sustainable development,” said Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, Deputy Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). Tropical Shipping was recently exempted from new port fees imposed by the Trump Administration, a huge relief to the Caribbean market it serves.
The company said the workshops are important to strengthening the region, so that a natural disaster does not devastate its economy. The company said it has scheduled other disaster management seminars on other islands this year. “Part of our company’s mission is to support the health and well-being of the Caribbean, and Central and South America before, during, and after a natural disaster,” said Tropical Shipping President Tim Martin. “Our commitment to the communities we serve is to strengthen them, and these workshops are tools for resilience,” Martin added.
Tropical Shipping is headquartered in Riviera Beach, Florida, and has served the Caribbean market since 1963 and Guyana since 1994. Tropical’s transportation services include refrigerated, dry, Full-Container- Load (FCL), Less-than-Container-Load (LCL), small package, consolidation, inland transportation, and global logistics services.
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