The Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) has encouraged regional meteorological staff members to sharpen their knowledge to avert the possibility of disasters like Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Winston.

“To avoid the re-occurrence of tragedies like Tropical Cyclone Winston in the future, this is our responsibility and I urge you to concentrate on your training and to obtain as much knowledge as possible to help your various countries,” said JICA Resident Representative Hiroyuki Sawada.

Mr Sawada was speaking on Monday at the opening of the five-day Sixth Regional Training Course at the Fiji Meteorological Services headquarters in Nadi attended by meteorological staff from nine Pacific Island countries in a bid to improve marine forecasting.

He said metrological offices played an important role in disseminating daily updated quality weather forecast, advance advisories and warnings and he applauded the Fiji Meteorological Services in playing a leading role.

“I commend the strong initiative by the government of Fiji for establishing this new Ministry (Ministry of National Disaster Management) to oversee almost all disaster related activities except seismology,” he said.

The Fiji Met Services in collaboration with JICA organised the training.

He said the JICA project for reinforcing meteorological training was a four year programme that would end this year.

Commissioner Western, Manasa Tagicakibau said this partnership between the JICA and FMS was centered on improving the delivery of weather and climate services.

“We acknowledge and appreciate the long standing cooperation with the Government of Japan and in particular the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) who has been generously supporting the training programme,” Mr Tagicakibau said.

“JICA and FMS have had a long positive history and it is through this partnership that we will be able to focus on improving the delivery of weather and climate services in the Southwest Pacific Region.

“Training such as this will equip Meteorologist with the basic knowledge of marine meteorology including ocean waves, tides and storm surges in to improve the marine metrological services in their respective countries to cope with marine and coastal hazards and save life and property.”

The training ends on Friday.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika
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