In a post-Beryl world, Caribbean nations begin rebuilding

FILE- An aerial view of the damage caused by Hurricane Beryl in Grenada in July. (COURTESY: GRENADA INFORMATION SERVICE)

Brent Pinheiro

brent.pinheiro@guardian.co.tt

The Caribbean is no stranger to hurricanes and natural disasters, given its geographic location. Past headlines serve as grim reminders of the destruction hurricanes have wrought on the region. For countries like Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the wounds are still fresh, with the damage laid bare before their people. Although mainland Grenada was mostly spared when Hurricane Beryl swept through on July 1, 2024, the storm—a powerful Category 4 hurricane—unleashed its fury on Petit Martinique and Carriacou.

When the winds subsided, the extent of the devastation became evident. Carriacou, with just over 3,000 inhabitants, saw over 90% of its buildings destroyed. Petit Martinique experienced similar destruction. Speaking with Guardian Media at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in the Cayman Islands, Grenada’s Tourism, Creative Economy, and Culture Minister Adrian Thomas reported that the cleanup is ongoing two months later. “Our primary focus now is to clean up both islands. There is a lot of garbage and debris, and we need to make it habitable again,” he said. Thomas also mentioned that a rapid assessment of the housing stock and agricultural sector is underway to determine resource allocation.

Photo: St Vincent & the Grenadines’ Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture Carlos James addresses members of the media at the State of the Tourism Industry Conference. (Photo by Brent Pinheiro)

A similar situation is unfolding in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. At SOTIC, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development, and Culture Carlos James reaffirmed his government’s commitment to provide EC$136 million for the recovery effort as parts of the Grenadines begin to rebuild after Beryl’s passage. James stated that the country plans to work closely with the United Nations to develop a framework for tourism disaster management and natural disaster response. However, he emphasized that St. Vincent is “open for business.”

Photo: Grenada’s Tourism, Creative Economy, and Culture Minister Adrian Thomas speaks with Guardian Media at the State of the Tourism Industry Conference. (Photo by Brent Pinheiro)

According to a 2017 report commissioned by Climate Analytics, the economic costs of cyclones in the Caribbean have averaged 2% of GDP since 1950 and are projected to increase under current policies. With Grenada committing EC$269 million to the relief efforts, Thomas reiterated a call made earlier this year by Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell—large countries must step up to help Small Island Developing States (SIDS). “The damage they are causing to the environment requires them to assist us because, year after year, we must find money and borrow to fix the disasters they create. It doesn’t make sense, so wherever we get the platform, we will let them know they need to come forward,” he told Guardian Media. The Grenadian government has also offered concessions and waivers for the residents of Carriacou and Petit Martinique, including a 100% waiver of taxes on machinery, appliances, furnishings, and equipment, loan/grant facilities for businesses, and a waiver of all property taxes for 2025.

Photo: Director General of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation Latia Duncombe addresses members of the media at the State of the Tourism Industry Conference. (Photo by Brent Pinheiro)

It has been five years since Hurricane Dorian struck the Bahamas as a Category 5 storm, one of the strongest landfalling tropical cyclones in recorded history. Dorian’s devastation led to US$3.4 billion in damages (nearly a quarter of the nation’s GDP) and claimed at least 74 lives. Director General of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation Latia Duncombe said they have encouraged visitors to participate in restoration efforts through programs such as the Mission for Mangroves—a tourism-based initiative that allows tour participants to plant mangrove seedlings at various coastal sites. Hurricane Dorian destroyed nearly 74 percent of Grand Bahama’s mangroves and 40 percent of Abaco’s. Mangroves play a crucial role in protecting coastal communities from extreme weather events, such as hurricanes.

The scenes unfolding across the Caribbean are reminiscent of the Dutch-French island of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin. Seven years ago, Hurricane Irma—a powerful Category 5 storm—made landfall on September 6, 2017, wiping out most of the infrastructure and causing billions of dollars in damage. The disaster affected the island so severely that the St. Martin government now benchmarks its data against 2016, pre-Irma, and post-Irma.

Photo: St. Martin Tourist Board President Valerie Damaseau addresses members of the media at SOTIC.(Photo by Brent Pinheiro) 

St. Martin has spent the past few years gradually rebuilding. Valerie Damaseau, President of the St. Martin Tourist Board, explained why the process has been so lengthy. “We have been working to bury everything underground—from the sewage system to telecommunications and electricity. All the cables you see are now replaced by solar panels,” Damaseau said.

While moving infrastructure underground is not a priority for Grenada at the moment, Damaseau noted that even adjusting building designs can save lives. “At hotels and residences, there are shelters or bunkers,” she added. “That’s something that saves a lot of lives and works quite well.”

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sixth assessment report, the Caribbean is likely to experience fewer tropical cyclones overall, but those that do occur will be more intense. The IPCC also predicts that “sea levels will very likely continue to rise around small islands” and that “sea level rise coupled with storm surges and waves will exacerbate coastal inundation.” If these predictions come to pass, regional governments will need to juggle multiple roles: advocates for their people, creators of sustainable policy, and leaders in climate change initiatives.

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