USCG, CDC facilitate Virtual Program Management Training for National Oil Spill Response

February 18, 2022

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) through the US Department of State, and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) yesterday concluded a three-day (February 15 to 17) virtual workshop on Program Management Training for the National Oil Spill Response. This training engaged all stakeholders of the National Oil Spill Committee and was geared towards oil spill exercise design, planning, management and execution.

Day One began with brief welcoming remarks by CDC’s Preparedness and Response Manager, Major Salim October; Deputy Director General of the CDC, Major Loring Benons; US Coast Guard Facilitator, Lieutenant James Knudsen; and US Department of State Representative Seth Wikas. The collective message conveyed was that of potential that such a training holds for Guyana, especially as the country continues to discover more oil sources. A USCG Program Overview was then presented by Don McVaugh, a US Coast Guard Consultant. Then participants learned the importance of conducting exercises, along with the methodology employed by the US Coast Guard and the program roles and responsibilities associated with oil spill responses. Mr. McVaugh also explained how the Multi-year Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP) can be useful for Guyana’s response mechanism, as well as Emergency Management Assessments. The first day of the Workshop closed with spirited discussions about how to incorporate such a design to fit Guyana’s climate.

Days Two and Three examined US Coast Guard Exercise Case Studies including large oil spills such as the Deepwater Horizon incident; how essential a Regional Activities Center is for a coordinated effort; the importance of programs such as the Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP), the Government Initiated Unannounced Exercise (GIUE) Program, and the Spill of National Significance (SONS) Program. Those programs were illustrated to indicate what is necessary for an effective and efficient oil spill response, regardless of the magnitude. Stakeholders of the training expressed gratitude for acquiring such knowledge and resources.

Major October closed the three-day session by lamenting on the importance of such a venture. He added that entities such as the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and CDC will benefit tremendously from the insight imparted by their US counterparts.

Continuous training and exercises in the coming weeks are slated for the National Oil Spill Committee as they prepare to consistently monitor and manage any events or hazards that may occur. Additionally, the United States Government remains a steadfast partner to the Government of Guyana in ensuring that all systems are in place to face any related challenge.