by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 9:20 AM ET, Wed July 3, 2024
Kenneth Bryan, Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), issued a call today, July 3 for hurricane preparedness and unity among the Caribbean islands.
“Even as we protect life and property here in the western Caribbean, we stand in solidarity with the people of St. Vincent and the islands of the Grenadines who have been severely impacted by Hurricane Beryl,” said Bryan, who is also Minister of Tourism and Ports of the Cayman Islands.
“Their pain is our pain, and their struggles are felt across our entire region. When one member of our Caribbean family is affected, we all feel the impact. But together, we must unite and support each other through these challenging times.”
The Caribbean Tourism Organization is the region’s tourism development agency, of which 25 Caribbean countries are members.
The CTO will work closely with relief organizations to respond to the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, which is currently a Category 4 hurricane heading towards Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, and previously devastated Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as a Category 5 hurricane.
“Climate change poses a significant threat to our region, and we must be proactive in our response. This hurricane season, let us demonstrate the strength of our Caribbean spirit by preparing diligently and standing in solidarity. Our collective efforts will make a difference and ensure that we emerge stronger and more resilient,” Chairman Bryan added.
Warnings have been issued that this year’s hurricane season in the Atlantic might be the worst we’ve seen in years, likely caused by climate change and warming ocean temperatures.
Bryan called on the international community outside of the Caribbean to help rebuild impacted infrastructure, essential services and more.
“We contribute the least to and suffer the most from the changing climate, so we need the global community to help provide resources for improved building standards, better communication systems, and more resilient infrastructure to mitigate future hurricane impacts.”
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