EXECUTIVE SESSION OPENING CEREMONY: Left to Right: Dwayne Curtis, DEHS, Coral Miller, Ministry of The Environment, Katherine Malpelli, USGS Assistant Training Instructor, Edison Deleveaux, Marine Resources, Burlington Strachan, BEC, Antonique Sweeting, BNGIS Centre, Carolann Albury, Director, BNGIS Centre, Jean Weaver, International Program Coordinator USGS, Peter Chirico, USGS Training Instructor, Captain Stephen Russell, Director, NEMA, Mr. Lavarity, RBPF, Timothy Zuniga-Brown, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Brent Marshall, BTC, Hon. Phenton Neymour, M.P., Ministry of The Environment with responsibility for the BNGIS Centre, Bradley King, MOW, Randy Taylor, GBPA, Daniel Hansen, U.S. Northern Command, Michael Braynen, Director, Department of Marine Resources, Dwight Allen, DEHS, John Ferguson, Deputy Commissioner and Duane Miller, BNGIS Centre

The Bahamas National Geographic Information Systems Centre in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency successfully hosted a Remote Sensing Workshop conducted by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the BNGIS Centre supported by the U.S. Northern Command Technical Assistance Program.

This training initiative included a series of three activities, Precursor Global Positioning (GPS) and GIS training for participants conducted by the Centre, Onsite planning visit by USGS and the Remote Sensing Workshop

In the words of Mr. Daniel Hansen, U.S. Northern Command, the remote sensing workshop was “ our first-ever disaster preparedness project with the Government of The Bahamas, to provide historic training to Bahamian first responders as part of an innovative initiative involving the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Northern Command, The 

Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency and the National GIS Center. One of the principal objectives of this initiative is to expand the capacity of the Bahamian government to be able to receive and analyze satellite data to primarily enable mapping of flood prone areas throughout The Bahamas before and after a natural disaster. This will ultimately strengthen the capability to reduce the risks and impacts of disasters in The Bahamas, as well as provide timely and effective emergency response.”

As a member of the National Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Support Function (ESF) # 5, Planning and Information, The Bahamas National Geographic Information Systems Centre’s vision is to as it relates to disaster preparedness overall objective Thank you all again for your support - together we will be able to achieve a single vision: to protect the health and environment of Bahamian communities through sustainable emergency preparedness, enabled by highly trained professionals to address all types of disasters and emergencies.

USGS Onsite Planning Meeting March 11, 2010
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Remote Sensing Workshop Precursor Training Conducted by the Centre

PRECURSOR TRAINING: conducted as a prerequisite to USGS Training. Training Instructor Ms. Sweeting, BNGIS Centre conducts four day training Session for Royal Bahamas Defense Force, Department of Marine Resources, and Department of Environmental Health Services

PRECURSOR TRAINING: Royal Bahamas Defense Force capture data utilizing Trimble handheld GPS units.

TECHNICAL SESSION: FIELD SURVEY
Teacher and Students from C.R. Walker High School participate in Remote Sensing Workshop. Left to Right: Carlon Bethell, Senior Lieutenant, Royal Bahamas Defense Force, Brianetta Miller, Student, Casey Pratt, Student, Mr. H. Walker, Teacher, C.R. Walker High School

TECHNICAL SESSION: Group photograph of technical officers participating in the Remote Sensing training Conducted by USGS. Left to Right: Duane Miller, BNGISC, Frederick Arnett, Marine Resources, Randy Taylor, GBPA, Katherine Malpelli, USGS, Susanne Russell, MET, H Walker, C.R. Walker, Ms. Jean Weaver, International Program Coordinator USGS, Peter Chirico, USGS, Wendell Rigby, NEMA, Christine Dean, DEHS, Al Rahming, RBDF, Carlon Bethell, RBDF, Shantell Lopez, WSC, Devard Deveaux, RBPF, Antonique Sweeting, BNGISC and Origin Deleveaux, RBDF

Executive Session Opening Ceremony

INTRODUCTION TO REMOTE SENSING IMAGERY FOR HAZARDS MITIGATION

EXECUTIVE SESSION
Monday June 7th 2010, 9:00a.m. – 3pm.
Police Conference Centre
East Street, Nassau, Bahamas

Executive Session Opening Ceremony

Duane Miller
(Moderator)

National Anthem                   Audience

Invocation                             Mrs. Marjorie Gilbert, BNGIS Centre

Welcome                              Ms. Antonique Sweeting, BNGIS Centre

Remarks                               Captain Stephen Russell, National Emergency Management Agency

Remarks                               Mr. Daniel Hansen, USNORTHCOM Humanitarian Assistance Program Manager

Remarks                               Mr. Timothy Zuniga-Brown, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy

Keynote Address                  Hon. Phenton Neymour, M.P., Minister of State, Ministry of The Environment

Vote of Thanks                     Ms. Coral Miller, Ministry of The Environment

Break

Executive Session Presentations

EXECUTIVE SESSION
Monday June 7th 2010, 9:00a.m. – 2:00pm.
Police Conference Centre
East Street, Nassau, Bahamas