About TEMA

The National Emergency Management Agency (Tobago) was established in accordance with The Tobago House of Assembly Executive Council Minute No. 64 of March 09, 1998. Through NEMA and by extension, the (National Disaster Management System) this island would benefit from a comprehensive disaster management approach focused on prevention, preparation and mitigation against disasters, as well as emergency response, rehabilitation and recovery from such events.

However, the national government created a new organization for disaster management called the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management as a division of the Ministry of National Security.

While formation of the ODPM made the name NEMA Tobago extraneous since it was no longer a national entity; NEMA Tobago remained though, functioning out of the Office of the Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly.

After careful consideration, the Executive Council of the Tobago House of Assembly, by Executive Council Minute No. 722 of October 2008 decided on a change of name which would more accurately define the jurisdiction of the agency. That new name is Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA).

TEMA's Strategic Plan- The way Forward:

CORE VALUES: E- empathy, L- leadership, I-integrity, T- teamwork and A- accountability

GUIDING PRINCIPLES: Confidentiality, Commitment, Communication, Results Oriented and Preparation.

MISSION: To co-ordinate a network of agencies and individuals within the island of Tobago to direct their efforts to the maximum preservation of life and the protection of property in times of disaster.

Our State of Readiness can be evaluated in a number of ways:

• The continuous training of staff and emergency personnel
• Testing of written emergency plans, and
• Complimenting of the committed human resource with the necessary tools or equipment and infrastructure to undertake the task of modern disaster management here in Tobago.

Emergency Management involves numerous agencies from the public and private sector and non-profit organizations. The Public Sector includes Emergency Managers and various agencies on the island including:

Law Enforcement agencies under the Ministry of National Security such as the Trinidad and Tobago Police, Trinidad and Tobago Regiment & Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard , The Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service.

Public Utilities- such as the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission, Telecommunication Service of Trinidad and Tobago and the Water and Sewage Authority.

Private Sector- such as the Chamber of Commerce, Trinidad and Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association (TTHTA), Airlines, Insurance Agencies, Scarborough Regional Hospital, etc.

Other Agencies- Meteorological Services (M.E.T) and a host of Community Based Organizations.

Non-Governmental Organizations- Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross, Trinidad and Tobago Amateur Radio Society (TTARS), Radio Emergency Associated Communication Team (REACT), Adventist Disaster Relief Agency (A.D.R.A), the Salvation Army, numerous churches.

Divisions of the Tobago House of Assembly- such as Division of Agriculture- The Environmental Management Authority (E.M.A), The Emergency Medical Services (E.M.S) and The Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) is the co-ordinating body of all mentioned Agencies.

OBJECTIVES:

• To establish and fully equip the Tobago Emergency Operations Centre.
• To conduct educational programs in all aspects of Disaster Management throughout Tobago continuously.
• To conduct & facilitate annual training for all Task Force groups within the island of Tobago.
• To acquire and maintain a state of the art telecommunications network and information management system.
• To support the Trinidad and Tobago Cadet Force 6th Battalion which forms an integral part of the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC).

Strengths:

• Flexibility of staff
• Multi-Skilled Staff
• Accessibility of training opportunities
• Dedicated and diligent staff and volunteer personnel.
• Open door policy where the public has access to information, as well as the establishment of a Local and National Web Site.

Opportunities:

An administration that is supportive of TEMA's Development Programme.

TEMA enjoys a high esteem by members of the public and supporting agencies.
Easy access to current information on disaster management internationally.

Geography Structure:

Tobago’s geographic makes the island particularly vulnerable to a number of natural and man-made disasters. The ability of the island to recover from the impact of any disaster is to a large extent dependent on our state of readiness as an agency.