~Businesses and residents urged to insure their properties and businesses adequately.~
PHILIPSBURG:--- Speakers at the Governor’s Symposium that spoke on the topic “Climate Change and Small Islands States ~~ A call for strategic Action~ pointed out that Climate Change has already affected the weather patterns globally and most recently the Caribbean Islands. Derek Downes Managing Director of the Windward Islands Bank call on property owners and businesses to adequately insure their properties. Downes said people should not under insure their businesses to save on insurance premiums but instead they should make sure they even insure for business interruption. Downes made his statements after it was clearly outlined that the Caribbean Islands will have to deal with fiercer weather conditions due to Climate Change. Downes also explained that St. Maarten suffered $2.1B in damages due to hurricane Irma that ravaged the island on September 6th 2017. He said government has to ensure that building codes are followed while proper planning has to be made to deal the disruption caused by natural disasters.
Dr. Michael Taylor, Deputy Dean Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of West Indies in his presentation showed that there is enough evidence to show that the Caribbean Islands will have stronger hurricanes in the future due to the Climate Change. He said that governments must take the necessary the steps and to adapt to the changes in order to better prepare for natural disasters.
Based on science he said that the islands will suffer from longer droughts, and less rain during the rainy season while hurricanes will be as strong as hurricane Irma or stronger. Low lying areas will disappear due to the rise in sea levels, the ports, airports, and other areas on St. Maarten will vanish while Lowlands will be a separte island, therefore governments must ensure that proper infrastructure is in place to deal with the aftermath of the natural disasters. Dr. Taylor said that Climate Change has already taken place and it will get worst year after year. He said due to the changes even agriculture in the Caribbean will be severely affected.
Keynote Speaker Dr. Kenrick Leslie, Director of Caribbean Community Climate Change Center called on governments to take example from Barbuda, Aruba and the British Virgin Islands whom he said have what is required to deal with the aftermath of natural disasters. He said government has to do more to desalinate water, use more of green energy (solar power) and to ensure that SMART hospitals are built because the weather conditions will not get any better due to Climate Change.
Dr. Leslie said that there is enough evidence to show that the weather conditions will not improve for the better but instead due to Climate Change there will stronger hurricanes in the future therefore governments must work ensure that a disaster fund is in place, adapting building codes that will be climate change resilient, encourage solar generating power, while preparing schools that could operate during and after any disaster. He said that a Trust Fund should also be established similarly to that of the British Virgin Islands.
Other speakers at the symposium includes host Governor Eugene Holiday, Interim Prime Minister Leona Marlin Romeo, and Dr. Cedric van Meerbeeck.
