UN, Business and government leaders come together to prepare for the worst forecasted hurricane season on record

Bridgetown, June 26, 2024:  With the 2024 hurricane season forecasted to be the worst on record, partners from the international and regional business community, more than a dozen Caribbean government bodies, and international humanitarian and development agencies are taking action now to collaborate to tackle this historic challenge. 

As one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions, every year, Caribbean countries are subject to tropical cyclones, volcanoes, earthquakes, and other natural hazards, with climate change exacerbating the severity and frequency of these catastrophes, and record-warm ocean temperatures leading to unprecedented levels of risk. 

Against this backdrop, 70 representatives from Caribbean regional and national disaster management agencies and chambers of commerce, this week came together with representatives from international organizations and multinational companies for a three-day high-level meeting on “Building Public-Private Partnerships for Disaster Resilience in the Caribbean."  

In delivering opening remarks, Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Ms. Elizabeth Riley told the gathering, "This is a particularly significant opportunity as we continue navigating the complex multi-hazard environment that necessitates robust partnerships to build safer, more resilient, and more sustainable countries."

The objective of the meeting was to ensure that clear mechanisms between the private sector, government, and humanitarian and development partners at national and regional levels were established before disasters strike. 

“Relationships and procedures must be put in place now, ahead of a crisis, so that when we are in an emergency situation all stakeholders already know what to do and how to coordinate their efforts,” said United Nations Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Mr. Simon Springett, as he delivered welcome remarks to kick-off the three-day talks. 

Collaboration between the public and private sectors is critical for disaster resilience, given that businesses drive investments, support livelihoods, and provide essential goods and services. Leveraging the resources and expertise of the private sector is key to enhancing society’s ability to withstand and recover from disasters. 

In this regard, Mr. Kareem Elbayar, Programme Coordinator of the OCHA-UNDP Connecting Business Initiative underscored: "No single entity, whether government, business, or civil society, can effectively address the complex demands of disaster management alone."

 Chair, Network of Caribbean Chambers of Commerce (CARICHAM) and Executive Director, Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Petipha Lewis, urged participants to remain focused on the outcomes of the meeting, and to leverage their diverse experiences, expertise and resources to forge stronger alliances and more effective strategies. 

"Together we can transform the way we manage disasters and create a model of collaboration that truly serves the common good," she maintained.

Participants shared regional and global best practices in public-private cooperation and tested disaster response protocols. They also developed a common agenda for integrating and scaling up private sector engagement in disaster preparedness, humanitarian coordination, response, and recovery. The protocols will be implemented during the upcoming hurricane season and will be revised and expanded to cover a wider range of humanitarian emergencies in the coming months. 

The United Nations is committed to supporting local and regional leaders as they work to strengthen the resilience of Caribbean peoples and societies.  

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This story was first published by UN Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.