The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A Bahamian loss prevention/asset protection company has partnered with global travel/operational risk management provider, iJet, to bring a “unique” emergency service offering to the Bahamas.

Gamal Newry, president and senior consultant for Preventative Measure,s told Tribune Business: “We have partnered with iJet to bring a unique service, an emergency evacuation service, here to the Bahamas.

“We have joined with this global partner who is going to assist us with evacuations as it pertains to security, severe weather and medical emergencies anywhere in the world; certainly in the Bahamas but from anywhere they are located in the world.”

Mr Newry added that Preventative Measures, which was established in 1999, had initially focused on training and consulting services. “During during that process we were able to ascertain from our clients that there was a gap in their ability to continue business, and facilitate staff members who travelled, to get them from a hostile or unsafe environment to get medical attention,” he explained.

“In speaking with several providers we determined that perhaps there is a need for this in the Bahamas. We have had a relatively good reception. It’s relatively new, or perhaps non-existent, in the Bahamas. There are certainly travel insurance providers, but there is a gap from getting from that point of harm to the safe area.”

Barbara Vitkauskas, president of partner development at iJET Intelligent Risk Systems, said the product would be for individual customers, corporate businesses and as an addition to personal insurance programmes.

Ms Vitkauskas, who is in Nassau this week as a presenter at the international travel insurers’ conference (ITIC), said: “iJet is thrilled to be able to move into this arrangement with Preventative Measures. We will offer a customised hotline that members will be able to call and receive someone to immediately answer their questions, and understand how they can receive assistance in the event of a security or natural disaster.”

iJet, which is headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, also has offices in London and Singapore, and is looking to expand its offering to the Americas.

Ms Vitkauskas said the company will have a presence at the FIFA football World Cup in Brazil this year. “We are already doing our excerises, preparing for all of the activity coming around certainly what could happen while in Brazil,” she added.

Ms Vitkauskas said there was a growing demand for the service globally. “It’s becoming more and more prevalent. It’s obvious that there is a need for a security response and medical provider to assist,” said Ms Vitkauskas.