Canadian High Commission supports "The Rough Season"

Association of Caribbean States (ACS) Secretary General, Rubén Silié Valdez and Deputy High Commissioner at the Canadian High Commission in Port of Spain, Mr. Dexter Bishop, signed a Contribution Agreement by means of which the Government of Canada has pledged financing for the radio transmission of the Audio Soap Opera on natural disasters entitled, "The Rough Season".
 
The TT$80,000 contribution by the Canadian Government goes towards broadcasting the programme in Trinidad and Tobago with a view to sensitising the population to the importance of hurricane and disaster preparedness, issues which are highly relevant given the onset of the 2006 hurricane season.
 
Launched in August 2005, the Audio Soap Opera, a joint project of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the United Nations' International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) and the ACS, aims to have a positive influence on the public's behaviour with respect to disaster and risk reduction, thereby reducing the impact of disasters through saving lives and protecting of human health, resources and assets.
 
"The Rough Season" is divided into ten episodes which focus on flooding and related issues of hurricanes, storms, landslides and food security, while touching on a series of sub-topics such as risk reduction, preservation of public health, early warning systems, climate change, building codes, and community empowerment, among others.