The Caribbean Diaspora Skills Directory CIC (Community Interest Company) was set up to coordinate a project to harness the professional skills of the Caribbean Diaspora to provide support, contacts and networks as a resource for the Caribbean. Phase one of the project is aimed at preparing a directory to serve as a valuable database in times of natural disaster.

The project grew from discussions at a 2016 conference on ‘Caribbean 2030’, sponsored by the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI), the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Wilton Park, an Executive Agency of FCO, the UK-based Caribbean Council and the Jamaica National Foundation. Some of the participants met regularly in the subsequent year to fine tune the idea of a professional skills base which would serve the Caribbean, its Diaspora and organisations interested in the Caribbean.

Disaster Response Volunteers

One of the most unpredictable, and many times the most devastating, things to happen to a country is a natural disaster.

Regardless of a country’s economic or political standing, natural disasters can wreak havoc on a population, causing an infinitely long recovery process.

Skills Required

• Emergency responders with access to rescue boats, generators and medical supplies to aid in search-and-rescue operations
• Disaster relief volunteers – already worked with charities, aid organisations and disaster at home and abroad
• Hospitality industry personnel– cancellations, re-allocating people, dealing with stranded people, co-ordination
• Airline personnel
• Disaster waste recovery – gathering/ supporting damaged infrastructure
• Restoration specialists
• Self-storage unit owners – space to store people’s stuff until they get back on their feet
• Tree removal experts
• Auto mechanics
• Hardware store and grocery suppliers
• Urban planning after recovery
• Architects/ structural engineers