WASHINGTON, CMC – Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell Friday said that Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is no longer an option and is a reality that must be tackled with determination and strong political will.
Addressing the virtual forum organized by the Washington-based Atlantic Council on the theme “Strengthening US-Caribbean cooperation on natural disaster readiness, Mitchell said the Caribbean region is vulnerable to several hazards, both natural and man-induced.
He stated that the multi-hazard realities and multi-island layout increase risk and vulnerability, with poverty and economic circumstances being directly related to disaster risk.
Mitchell stated that climate change has a direct correlation with disaster risk and that climate adaptation is costly to the region, but it must be addressed nonetheless.
“However, the countries of the Caribbean, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), contribute very little to the growing climate concerns as compared to developing and developed countries.
“Increased disaster risks and vulnerabilities fueled by climate change and weak socio-economic conditions force the region to sometimes choose between Disaster Risk Reduction and economic development.”
Mitchell said that sustainable development actually requires advances in economic growth, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) also requires strict measures to reduce vulnerabilities.
“Disaster Risk Reduction is no longer an option. It is a reality that must be tackled with determination and strong political will. States need to take ownership of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), which must now be featured prominently in central budgets. The investment in DRR today will result in significant savings in the future. ”
Mitchell said that risk governance must become a priority, noting that most countries in the region either have no disaster risk reduction (DRR) legislation or outdated ones that may not be relevant.
He stated that Grenada has taken the bold step to enact DRR legislation in 2023, thereby transforming the country’s DRR landscape.
“But it will not be an overnight process. Transformation can sometimes be painful at first, but the result is rather rewarding. Our legislation, policies, and plans must guide our efforts toward enhanced Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). ”
He informed the virtual event that disaster risk financing is a new and emerging field.
“It is also costly. But there are benefits. Grenada benefitted after Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. Caribbean states are beginning to understand the positive impacts of parametric Insurance,” Mitchell said, but questioned whether the populations across the region understand and appreciate risk transfer.
“We encourage citizens to take risk transfer seriously, but the conditions are not right. It is optional for people who do not have a mortgage on their property. Depending on the material used to build (wood or concrete), Insurance may not be available.
“If the region wants a greater buy-in for risk transfer, the facilities must be available, affordable, and accessible. The Caribbean Catastrophic Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) has done an excellent job thus far, but much more needs to be done for ordinary citizens,” Mitchell said.
The Grenadian Prime Minister stated that the primary goal of DRR is to build resilience in regional populations, noting that the Strategy Impact of the Barbados-based Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) aligns with ‘Safer, more Resilient States.’ Resilience pays, but it must be resilience for all.
“No one should be left behind. There should be a conscious effort to reduce inequalities in society if resilience must mean anything to ordinary people.”
Mitchell said that over the last three decades, there have been some defining moments in the Caribbean.
He said Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, Hurricane Ivan in 2004, Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, and most recently, Hurricane Beryl in 2024 have taught significant lessons, adding that the hazards are becoming more frequent, more intense, and more erratic.
“Our actions and inactions in response to these teaching moments will determine and influence the resilience that results,” Mitchell said, adding that DRR calls for a ‘whole of society approach.
He said the programs for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) must be implemented with, not for, the communities.
“Too many times, we plan for communities and not with them. The programs and plans must be developed with a gender lens that focuses on all vulnerable groups, including those who are marginalized or disadvantaged. We must provide safe and resilient schools and community centers to advance the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) agenda.
“The progress that must be made in DRR in the Caribbean and the Americas must be achieved through collective efforts. There should be robust cooperation and collaboration that must be coordinated by entities that understand the regional context. CDEMA is one such entity that can be leveraged. ”
Mitchell stated that the vulnerabilities to hurricanes and tropical cyclones that exist among Caribbean nations and vulnerable US coastal cities necessitate a multilateral approach to developing strategies that benefit all people.
“Climate change and tropical cyclones impact the region, and a cross-regional cooperation approach between Caribbean nations and vulnerable US coastal cities must be adopted so that together we can advance the DRR agenda.”
Mitchell said that international resources earmarked for addressing climate adaptation strategies exist, but the Caribbean, US coastal cities, and, by extension, IDS are rarely able to access these resources.
“One of the main reasons is that SIDS approaches international entities not as a collective body but as individual countries. We need more substantial representation at the global level if Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are to make any real impact when trying to access resources. The international community must be made aware that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) mean business. But it takes collective efforts to advance the interests of small island states.
“We need to strengthen regional mechanisms for strategic planning and response. Political Expedience, whether at the national or regional level, must not overshadow the benefits that can be derived from incremental investments in programs aimed at reducing disaster risks in the medium to long term.
“It is time for us to move away from building back better. We should build to last. Disasters are not natural. The hazards are natural or man-induced. Our countries will be impacted. But our actions and inactions at all levels will determine the consequences we face from the impacts of these hazards,” Mitchell told the conference, adding, “The time for action is now.”
The Atlantic Council stated that last year’s hurricane season took a toll on the United States and the Caribbean alike, highlighting their shared vulnerability and the need to build resilience in the face of extreme weather events.
It stated that with the 2025 hurricane season underway and expected to be an “above-average” season, stronger coordination and cooperation between US cities and Caribbean countries are essential.
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