Beryl’s Monumental Effects Continue

Hurricanes are powerful forces of nature that can become extremely destructive events. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), hurricanes start by sucking heat from tropical waters. They form over the Atlantic ocean then move through tropical waters picking up more heat which creates low pressure underneath causing air to rush into it. The rising air cools resulting in clouds and thunderstorms. All of this movement creates wind that can reach calamitous speeds.

Back in May this year weather forecasters at NOAA predicted that this Atlantic hurricane season (1 June to 30 November 2024) would see above-normal activity. Although not outside the normal timeframe, Hurricane Beryl was the earliest declared category-5 storm in the north Atlantic. Thus, when the frequency and intensity increases outside of their typical patterns, we humans must question how our actions are contributing to these changes and find ways of stemming the devastating consequences. Beryl swept across the Caribbean on 1 July 2024 starting from the easternmost islands, decimating some islands with several deaths reported.

MONUMENTAL TASK

The eastern Caribbean island of Grenada and its sister islands Carriacou and Petite Martinique, St. Vincent and the Grenadines were perhaps among the most devastated by the direct hit of the category-5 hurricane with severe infrastructural damage, buildings and homes destroyed or damaged, loss of power and telecommunications, crop loss, and displaced persons housed in shelters. These islands are still reeling from the effects with many communities still without basic services.

Looking at the monumental task of rebuilding, leaders from several eastern Caribbean islands (Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda) wrote a letter to the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary seeking “immediate debt cancellation” so that they can focus on restoring their devastated countries without further burden. In fact, the UK government promised a £500,000 relief package for Caribbean countries affected by Beryl. But, is it enough?

Along with fellow regional leaders, Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, made it clear that the region wants meaningful support from those responsible for climate change.

“We are no longer prepared to accept that it is OK for us to constantly suffer significant loss and damage arising from climatic events and be expected to borrow, to rebuild year after year while the countries that are responsible for creating the situation and exacerbating the situation sit idly by with platitudes and tokenism.”

BREADBASKET

As Beryl continued westward on its path it roared past Jamaica causing infrastructure, housing, and crop damage to the island, particularly on the southwestern coastal areas. Power and telecommunications outages affected most of the island. In fact, like most of the islands touched by Beryl, there are many communities without electricity and potable water more than 3 weeks after the hurricane. Damage to the agricultural sector was most significant in the Parishes of Clarendon, Manchester, and St. Elizabeth known as Breadbasket of Jamaica.

The sleepy fishing village of Treasure Beach in St. Elizabeth will take a long while to recover, having sustained the brunt of Hurricane Beryl’s force. Small businesses and local fishermen/women will have to start from scratch.

Not even more established enterprises were spared. Jakes Treasure Beach, the colourful resort that dot the outstretched arms of Calabash Bay, and home of the Calabash International Literary Festival, was battered. The 3-day festival that draws thousands of book lovers from across the Caribbean, the US, Europe, and beyond takes place every other year, with it scheduled for 2025.

With an official statement, the Jakes management team made it clear that they and the community will rebuild stronger and reopen in phases.

“There is widespread property damage in and around Treasure Beach and southern St. Elizabeth. Homes and the livelihoods of farmers, shop-keepers, restaurants, and other businesses have suffered extensive damage. Our community is resilient and will rebuild stronger than ever with your love and support.”

BOILING POINT

But, frustration has reached boiling point for some as they are still without power more three weeks on in addition to receiving estimated electricity bills for thousands of dollars from the power company — Jamaica Public Service (JPS). Protest and roadblocks in St. Mary is just one example of the actions irate residents have taken to get attention. As a result, the company has “relaxed its Collections and Disconnection processes”. In addition, JPS announced a 20 percent discount on bills for customers who use 150 kWh of electricity or less per month.

Although Jamaica did not get a direct hit from Beryl, the strength of her winds and rain has left a mark. So, how does the region prepare for the next one? Like they always do, by focusing on its people, planet, prosperity, purpose, and partnership, the five pillars essential for building a stronger Caribbean as adopted at the Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in April this year.

Only the first hurricane of the season, life in the region is moving ahead. As our Caribbean athletes compete in the Paris Olympics, we must remember that most of them are representing islands that have been severely affected by Hurricane Beryl. Some have left homes without roofs, without electricity, without running water, islands still coming to grips with yet another disaster fuelled by climate change, a phenomenon that is being fed by human action mainly from rich countries north of the region. So, let’s celebrate their wins but not forgetting that some will go back home to an environment still coming out from under the rubble.