 Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre also leads the region's quasi-cabinet on sustainable development and climate change. During the regional launch of the United Nations Early Warning for All initiative on February 6, Prime Minister Pierre advances his advocacy for the implementation and integration of early warning systems into the national disaster preparedness plans of Caribbean nations. It is also known that in 2017, the 20th century season was the costliest on record with close to US 300 billion in damages. And so disaster risk reduction, mitigation, middle resilience and recovery have become top priority action areas for the survival of the Caribbean states. Target G of the Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction is to, and I quote, substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard warning systems and disaster information and assessments to people by 2040, not the emphasis on the world people. This is critical in the management of complex hazards which are experienced by our Caribbean states and compounded by the negative impact of climate change. The UN General Secretary, Early Warnings for All initiative, with the focus on multi-hazards. This multi-hazard early warning system correctly places emphasis on the safety of people. Early warning systems do not only save lives, but also provide vast economic benefits. Guided by the empirical data, the Prime Minister urged regional governments to employ early warning systems as its effective usage can save lives, minimize loss and damage of property and infrastructure and improve resilience to natural hazards. With hazards ranging from hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, volcanic eruptions, health pandemics and those related to pests and diseases on crops and livestock, there is no doubt that a multi-hazard approach is necessary involving coordination across numerous national ministries and agencies and also regional agencies. All effectively operating early warning systems to adjust the onslaught of hazards to which the Caribbean region is exposed. The Caribbean region must continue to implement measures to change our fortunes to become more resilient to natural disasters. The regional comprehensive disaster management strategy is the Caribbean vehicle for the implementation of the Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction. From the Office of the Prime Minister, Rihania Zudo