The Tribune

The Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Authority is holding a three-day workshop to help business owners prepare for disasters and disruptions plus subsequent recovery.

The Authority is using the Business Continuity Planning Workshop, being held at the British Colonial resort in downtown Nassau, to launch its business resilience programme.

Mckell Bonaby, minister of state with responsibility for disaster risk management, said: "We are here because, over the course of the next three days, nearly 100 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises will participate in practical business continuity planning training designed to strengthen your ability to prepare for disruption, respond effectively when it occurs, and recover as quickly as possible."

Disruption may result from hurricanes, flooding, power and telecommunication outages, supply chain interruption or technology failures. The DRM Authority said risks are the same despite the size of the business, but capacity to respond may be very different.

Mr Bonaby said he hopes the takeaway from the workshop will be: “Business resilience is your company’s ability to prepare for disruption, withstand its impact, adapt when circumstances change and recover quickly while continuing to serve customers, employees and the wider community."

He added: “During today’s session, I want you to identify the functions of your business you cannot afford to lose; examine your vulnerabilities; develop practical alternatives and consider how your business can continue operating when normal arrangements are disrupted."

Mr Bonaby said the purpose of the business resilience programme is to address the question: "How do we help our business withstand disruption, protect what matters most, continue critical operations and recover more quickly?”

“Having a plan is important, but knowing that the plan will work is even more important,” he added. Mr Bonaby said disaster risk cannot be managed by the Government.

"Government must lead, co-ordinate and create the conditions for resilience, but resilience must be built within our households, communities, institutions and especially into our businesses,” he added. “The private sector is therefore not simply a stakeholder that government calls upon after a disaster. You are part of the national resilience system.

"So participate fully today. Ask questions. Challenge assumptions. Be candid about your vulnerabilities. Most importantly, do not leave here simply with more information. Leave here with a plan to act."

The DRM Authority's business resilience workshop will finish today. It launches the Authority’s wider business resilience programme, and forms part of a series of interventions in response to findings from the National Business Resilience and Disaster Management survey. 

Workshop sessions were designed to support participating micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in identifying critical business functions, assessing vulnerabilities and dependencies, developing practical continuity strategies, clarifying roles and decision-making arrangements, strengthening communications and building a usable b business continuity plan. 

The DRM Authority added that the business resilience programme will deploy digital tools and resources to help businesses strengthen, test and improve their resilience beyond the workshops.