#BTEditorial – Preparedness takes funds some just don’t have

While we await official reports on the full extent of the impact of today’s inclement weather, we now brace for more severe weather forecast for Friday morning.

In the midst of battling our COVID-19 community spread earlier this year, we were warned by the experts that this year’s hurricane season would see an increased number of systems coming our way.

In April, the head of CDEMA, Elizabeth Riley, announced that the 2021 Hurricane Season would be “more active than usual”.

Riley called on residents to be prepared, pointing out that experts were predicting 17 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes (Category 3 or above). The annual average is 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

Whether we took stock or not is yet to be determined.

The deadly pandemic has taken so much from the world that we have all allowed ourselves to be consumed by it. The focus has gone from the daily death rates to the vaccine debate.

Daily, COVID-19 overshadows everything; but understandably so since it affects everything as well.

So much so that when the clarion call was made to “be prepared” for the hurricane season some may well have forgotten that such a task calls for resources. The kind of resources that many households may have exhausted over the past year and a half or so of lockdowns and curfews.

The admission from Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Cynthia Forde that the number of people needing help from the Welfare Department has increased paints a clear picture.

Hard times have hit many Barbadian households.

Sadly, the most vulnerable Barbadian households have not been spared the worst of the pandemic’s collateral damage.

That is why we believe it will be so much more challenging for some to “prepare for the hurricane season”. Some are just living to see the sunset on one day and the sunrise on the other.

Hurricane preparedness calls for cash. Extra cash other than that to pay your monthly bills. It means adjustments to your property. Thousands of Bajans have no money to get shutters, or clasps, or whatever to shore up their houses. Many structures are already in a state of disrepair.

It means spending a bit more at the supermarket on canned and dry foods, first aid items, bottled water, lanterns, a radio which carries batteries and the list goes on.

A little extra disposable income is needed; actually, in some households, income is needed first of all.

Let’s take for instance the former workers of Accra Beach Hotel who have been waiting on outstanding money owed them for 15 months after losing their jobs. This must be having a grave impact on them and their households.

Former Accra employee Rhea Straker told Barbados TODAY they have exhausted all possible avenues in order to get the matter resolved.

Straker said: “It’s not that we are begging for outstanding bonus payments. We just really want what the law says belongs to us and it seems like we can’t get it no matter what. We have done everything legally. All of our protests were legal, everything was legal and we couldn’t get our money. So to me, it’s like employers in this country have more rights than the employees because they can just refuse to pay us the money and continue to operate. That is just the part that is really sad for us. You can’t get what is yours.”

But Accra is just one example of a larger situation. Many are on the breadline whether in hospitality or other industries.

Those in the entertainment industry, too, have complained in recent times. Their plight is that they have not earned any money for a year. Vendors have been unable to ply their trade as usual. The public service vehicle operators are crying out too. The limit for the number of passengers has been reduced but added to that, the curfew and lockdowns have affected them as well.

We could go on and on about sectors that have been affected.

So existing incomes have shrunk while some incomes are no more.

The reality is we will have to pull together in order to get through this hurricane season and all the uncertain days that lie ahead.

It will be extremely difficult for thousands to ready themselves for unpredictable weather.

On an individual level, community level, church level, social groups level, we will have to become more aware of the needs and deficiencies of those with whom we come into contact.

It simply cannot be left to Government alone. But Government must be fully aware of how really harsh these challenging times are.

Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams urged Barbadians to brace for the upcoming bad weather.

He said: “It is a quickly evolving system and conditions are subject to change. Please monitor the broadcast so you know what is going on but in the interim, I am urging Barbadians [to] do what you know you need to do to make around you safe. Prepare for some bad weather.”

We agree wholeheartedly with the minister. We also know that for many preparedness is easier said than done.