Commonwealth SG visits Caribbean as hurricane countdown approaches

The Secretary-General said it was a worrying time for leaders.

“The threat of life-changing, economy-decimating, apocalyptic storms and hurricanes is beginning to cast a long shadow on the sunny islands of the Caribbean. June 1 is the day that is circled on the calendar, and as the countdown to hurricane season begins, nobody knows what to expect,” she said.

“Last year, the infrastructure and economic wherewithal of a number of Caribbean nations and territories was devastated. Dozens of lives were lost and years of laborious economic development washed away. Barbuda lost 95 percent of its infrastructure, Dominica, 230 percent of its GDP. They are both far from recovered. But they are forced to brace themselves for another hit. Governments in other islands are also worried about how they would cope with category 5 storms. This is why it is so important for me to meet with leaders to prepare effective responses to this ominous threat, using all the resources the Commonwealth has to offer.”

Read more at: St. Lucia Online