Cayman Islands Invests in National Multi-Agency Emergency Training Programme
The Cayman Islands has taken a significant step toward strengthening national emergency response capabilities with the launch of a new National Multi-Agency Emergency Management Training Programme, developed and led by Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI). This three-phase programme marks a significant step forward in the Islands’ capacity to coordinate and respond to major incidents effectively.
The first phase of the programme concluded on Friday, 13 March 2026, following eight days of intensive training. Instructors from GSB Command Training, a United Kingdom-based provider specialising in multi-agency command and leadership development, delivered the course, bringing international best practice and expertise directly to the Cayman Islands.
GSB Instructors deliver training to 15 candidates who will become certified trainers from 7 agencies.
The training focused on JESIP — the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles — the nationally recognised framework for multi-agency emergency coordination. The JESIP framework ensures that personnel from different organisations can work together seamlessly during complex and major incidents, strengthening coordination, communication and joint decision-making among emergency services.
At the heart of any emergency response are the bronze-level commanders — the first responders who arrive at the scene of any incident and are immediately tasked with making critical operational decisions under pressure. Operating at the frontline, these commanders must rapidly assess unfolding situations, establish initial control, coordinate resources on the ground, and ensure that accurate and timely information flows upward through the command structure to silver and gold-level commanders. Their role is pivotal: the quality of their judgement and the clarity of their reporting in those first critical moments can determine the entire trajectory of an emergency response.
Participants observing and presenting during the Bronze-level training portion of the programme.
At the conclusion of Phase 1, 32 incident commanders from across seven agencies successfully completed Bronze-level certification, equipping them with the skills required to coordinate operational response across agencies during emergencies. Of those 32, 15 were further certified to deliver JESIP training locally — ensuring this capability is embedded and sustainable within the Cayman Islands’ emergency services for the long term.
Reflecting the truly collaborative spirit of the programme, seven agencies participated in Phase 1: the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps (CICC), the Cayman Islands Fire Service (CIFS), the Cayman Islands Coast Guard (CICG), the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS), the Department for Public Safety and Communication (DPSC), Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI), and the Cayman Islands Regiment (CIR). The breadth of participation underscores the Government’s commitment to a whole-of-government approach to emergency preparedness and public safety.
The training programme concluded with a closing ceremony at which Her Excellency Mrs Jane Owen, Governor of the Cayman Islands, presented certificates to the successful candidates. Senior leadership from each participating agency attended in recognition of the officers’ commitment to strengthening national emergency preparedness.
Following the closing ceremony, Her Excellency Mrs Jane Owen, Governor of the Cayman Islands, shared “It was a privilege to be part of this closing ceremony and to recognise the dedication of every candidate who completed this programme. The Cayman Islands’ ability to respond to major incidents depends on people like these — trained, confident, and ready to act. I am equally encouraged by the commitment shown by each agency’s leadership, whose presence at this ceremony speaks to how seriously we take the safety of our Islands. My congratulations to all the graduates, and to HMCI for delivering a programme of this quality.”
GSB Instructors deliver training to 15 candidates who will become certified trainers from 7 agencies.
The National Multi-Agency Emergency Management Training Programme is a three-phase initiative designed to progressively build capability, coordination, and resilience across the Islands’ emergency management community. Phase 1 has established the critical foundation — trained trainers and bronze-level incident commanders — ensuring that expertise is embedded sustainably within local agencies. Subsequent phases will expand the programme to develop higher-level command capability and deepen interoperability across all participating organisations, with additional phases planned later this year and into 2027.
This programme represents one of the most significant investments in emergency management capability in the Cayman Islands’ history. It directly supports the Government of the Cayman Islands’ Broad Outcomes, particularly in the areas of Education, Immigration and Workforce Development — through the development of a highly skilled, certified local workforce — and Good Governance and Public Safety — through the establishment of robust, coordinated systems for emergency preparedness and response. By investing in the people who protect the Cayman Islands, the Government is fulfilling its commitment to a safe, secure, and well-governed community for all who live and work across these Islands.
Premier Andre Ebanks shared his appreciation and commitment to support the programme and further shared “To reinforce the safety and resilience of the Cayman Islands, this programme is a fundamental investment. As proof, we now have 32 certified bronze-level commanders – the first responders who will be at the scene when it matters most. But also, 15 of those 32 certified commanders are also trained JESIP instructors, who will sustain and grow this capability long into the future. This programme, then, is transforming how our agencies prepare for, respond to, and recover from major incidents – and it is exactly the kind of forward-thinking investment that reflects our NCFC Government’s commitment to good governance, public safety and developing a skilled Caymanian workforce.”
The National Multi-Agency Emergency Management Training Programme will continue to be managed and administered by Hazard Management Cayman Islands, ensuring ongoing training and collaboration among the Islands’ emergency response agencies. HMCI’s stewardship of the programme reflects its central role as the coordinating body for emergency management across the Cayman Islands and its commitment to building a stronger, more resilient emergency management community.
Director of Hazard Management Cayman Islands, Dani Coleman, noted that the programme represents an important milestone in strengthening the country’s emergency management framework. “HMCI developed this programme because we recognised a critical need for a structured, multi-agency approach to emergency management training across the Islands. Phase 1 is a tremendous achievement — not just in numbers, but in the calibre of trained professionals now embedded across our agencies. We are proud to administer this programme and deeply committed to its continued delivery through all three phases.”
The programme will provide a more coordinated, better-trained emergency management community means better outcomes for the people of the Cayman Islands when it matters most.
