The delegation was led by Crisis Manager Andre Bennett and included members of the Command Place Incident (CoPI) team. Participants included Fire Chief Jan van Dijck, Chief of Basic Police Care Robelto Hodge, Ambulance Service representative Delicia Godet of the Statia Health Care Foundation, and Information Managers Elizabeth Jones and Jacknelis Jennie.
During the first week, the delegation participated in tabletop sessions and practical exercises hosted by Safety Region Hollands Midden. The programme also included a visit to Ameland, where participants gained insight into emergency response coordination within an island environment and exchanged experiences with emergency management professionals operating in similar geographical conditions.
The second week continued with working visits and training sessions at Safety Region Rotterdam-Rijnmond and Safety Region Haaglanden. The programme focused on crisis coordination, operational decision-making, information management, emergency communication and multi-agency cooperation during emergency situations. Participants were exposed to various emergency scenarios designed to test coordination, information sharing and decision-making under pressure.
The training provided valuable theoretical knowledge and practical experience while strengthening cooperation among the participating emergency response partners. Through a combination of classroom instruction, tabletop exercises and practical simulations, the delegation gained a deeper understanding of crisis management structures, emergency response procedures and best practices used within the Dutch safety regions.
Andre Bennett highlighted the importance of the visit in further developing the island’s emergency response capabilities and strengthening relationships with key partners in the Netherlands. The knowledge and experience gained during the working visit will contribute to ongoing efforts to enhance emergency preparedness, improve response procedures, strengthen inter-agency cooperation and ensure a coordinated approach to protecting the safety and wellbeing of the community during emergencies and disasters.
The crisis management organisation remains committed to continuous improvement and capacity building to ensure that Statia is well-prepared to respond effectively to crises and emergencies while safeguarding residents, visitors and critical infrastructure.
