Eric Calais

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Minimizing the risk of future earthquakes must a focus of any Haitian development plans, according to Eric Calais, a seismologist with the United Nations Development Programme. “When the next earthquake hits Haiti we have to be sure that the country is prepared,” he said. “Haiti cannot afford being as poorly prepared as it was on 12 January 2010.” Calais was brought in to work with the organization after Haiti’s government asked for support in lowering their risks in potential quakes. According to Calais, the UNDP is working with the government to include risk reduction in the overall reconstruction.