The establishment of the technical working group (TWG) on Emergency Response Preparedness Plans and Mechanisms for Response was a decision of the Caribbean Plant Health Directors (CPHD) at their first meeting, convened at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat Headquarters in George Town Guyana on April 23-25, 2008. This working group was to be one of five groups established as an initial step in the formation of a regional network regarding plant health.