Barbados can no longer afford hurricane complacency

For too long, Barbadians have lived with a dangerous illusion—that our island’s geographic position somehow provides us with protection from the worst of the Atlantic hurricane season. Decades without a direct hit have lulled many into a false sense of security. But that illusion is crumbling—and fast.

Weather systems are now developing earlier and intensifying more quickly, often forming off the coast of West Africa and tracking across the Atlantic with increasing unpredictability. As climate patterns shift, the buffer we once thought we enjoyed is vanishing. The risk of a direct impact on the island is no longer hypothetical—it is very real and growing each year.

And yet, despite mounting scientific evidence and firsthand experiences of extreme weather events, a sense of complacency persists among too many Barbadians. A small group is buying into the myths—or worse, conspiracy theories—claiming hurricanes are somehow controlled by shadowy scientific forces, or that climate change is a hoax. This kind of thinking is not just misguided, it is dangerous.

While many are understandably perplexed that seemingly well-informed Barbadians could be swayed by those denying the reality of climate change, we must come to terms with the fact that we now live in an era where misinformation and unsubstantiated claims are freely spread across social media and the internet. These distortions serve only to cast doubt on well-established, scientifically proven evidence, fuelling confusion and delaying critical action.

We must also acknowledge the influence of powerful political figures, particularly in the United States and parts of South America, who have repeatedly downplayed or outright denied the dangers of climate change. Some have actively worked to roll back critical environmental protections introduced by previous administrations, undermining efforts to safeguard the planet for both the present generation and those yet to come.

Climate change is not a theory. It is a lived reality, unfolding all around us: rising sea levels, longer dry spells, more intense rainfall and, yes, stronger storms. These are not abstract projections for a distant future; they are pressing challenges demanding immediate, collective action.

As the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1, Barbadians face it with a mix of awareness and anxiety, shaped by the harsh lessons of Hurricane Beryl in 2024.

Beryl, which became the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record, tore through parts of the Caribbean and the United States, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. For Barbados, it was a wake-up call. The storm devastated the island’s fishing industry, smashing fishing boats, sinking several pleasure craft and destroying key infrastructure along the southern and western coasts, from Oistins in Christ Church to Six Men’s in St Peter.

The images and impact remain vivid for the many whose livelihoods depend on fishing and its related industries. But perhaps even more sobering was the revelation that the vast majority of fishing vessels were uninsured. This lack of coverage turned personal losses into national burdens. With no safety net in place, boat owners were left with few options, many forced to depend on government assistance, and ultimately taxpayers, to recover and rebuild.

In the aftermath, Barbados has had to import large amounts of fish to meet local demand. This is a painful and costly reminder of how unprepared we were for the financial fallout of climate-driven disasters.

The country has had a full year to get its house in order, for the government to pursue strategic policy decisions, for boat owners to negotiate with insurance companies for reasonable rates, and for average citizens to accept that each of them is at risk of being impacted by unpredictable weather events.

Barbadians must shed the outdated belief that “it can’t happen here”. We must prepare, not out of fear, but out of responsibility. Government agencies, community leaders and individuals all have a role to play in strengthening our resilience. That means building better and stronger infrastructure, enforcing building codes which have been in place for many years, updating emergency protocols and, most importantly, changing the way we think.

Hoping and praying cannot be the national response. People must act, and do so with haste and purpose.