At most risk is the Caribbean, which has been dealt serious damage from adverse weather systems every year for the past decade.

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) underscores the multi-faceted nature of disaster management in the Caribbean.

Sustainable Development Minister, Hon. Shawn Edward, Chairman of CDEMA, spoke at a regional workshop relating to the region’s disaster management and response plan.

“We live in a multi-hazard environment and that is something we have to continue to accentuate as disaster relief personnel, as disaster management officials,” he said.

Elizabeth Riley, Executive Director at CDEMA, detailed some of the disasters the region is currently trying to manage against the backdrop of the Hurricane Season.

“We have wildfires and forest fires which have been ongoing in Belize since May 16th and a number of our states in the eastern Caribbean are experiencing severe water shortages as a result of the drought. We have the situation of civil unrest which unfortunately still continues within Haiti and our region continues to experience earthquakes. So we appreciate that we will be experiencing all of these things as well as potential implications from the Atlantic basin hurricane season,” she said.

Since the commencement of the Hurricane Season, Saint Lucia has experienced at least two tropical waves.

The Season runs until November 30th.