Hurricane season is here – time to insure, not assume

Barbados has officially entered the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season under a stark warning: the government will no longer act as a financial safety net for those who have the means to insure their property but choose not to. Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams’ announcement may seem harsh to some, but it is a wake-up call.

The warning comes as the country faces what meteorologists say will be an “above-average” hurricane season. Storms are growing in strength, approaching more frequently, and coming closer to our shores. The Director of the Barbados Meteorological Services, Sabu Best, could not have been clearer: storms are intensifying and proximity to landfall is shrinking. Barbados is now in a zone of heightened vulnerability, and that means every citizen and resident must reassess how they prepare for disaster.

In a country where a significant portion of the population remains underinsured or entirely uninsured, Abrahams’ call for greater personal accountability is a bold but necessary policy shift. It is not an abdication of the government’s responsibility to protect the vulnerable. Instead, it signals a move toward sustainability and reasoned resource allocation.

The evidence speaks volumes. After Hurricane Elsa struck in July 2021, the government embarked on an unprecedented emergency housing intervention—rebuilding homes, repairing structures, and rehoming displaced residents. According to Abrahams, the vast majority of affected homes were uninsured. The cost of that relief programme has been staggering, and, in some cases, the recovery is still ongoing. What began as an act of compassion and necessity has now become an unsustainable burden on the public purse.

No one denies that the government has a moral obligation to assist those who are genuinely vulnerable—people living on fixed incomes, single-parent households, elderly residents, and those with disabilities. That commitment remains. But it is no longer reasonable or fai for taxpayers to shoulder the cost of rebuilding homes and businesses for individuals who have the financial capacity to insure their property but deliberately opt out.

In this context, the minister’s message is more than just a warning, it is a redefinition of social responsibility. Owning property, running a business, or operating a fishing boat all come with risk. And part of managing that risk is taking out insurance. When you fail to do so, you are not just risking your personal livelihood, you are putting a potential financial burden on the wider community. In times of crisis, that burden can derail the nation’s budgets, delay recovery efforts, and divert aid away from those who truly need it.

Yet, the conversation must also extend to the insurance industry. If the government is calling on citizens to insure, then insurance companies must rise to meet that challenge. Accessibility, affordability, and public trust will be critical. Insurance must not be so prohibitively expensive that it becomes out of reach for the average Barbadian household. Regulatory agencies may also need to review how products are structured, marketed, and delivered to ensure fairness and transparency.

Education is another crucial component. Far too often, property owners misunderstand or underestimate the risks. Others may lack basic knowledge about coverage options, deductibles, or claims processes. A coordinated public awareness campaign, perhaps led by the Department of Emergency Management and supported by the financial sector, could help demystify the process and empower more Barbadians to make informed choices.

Meanwhile, the government will need to continue improving its disaster preparedness systems, ensuring that emergency shelters, drainage infrastructure, and early warning mechanisms are functioning at optimal levels. The State’s role is not vanishing; it is shifting from sole provider to strategic facilitator. Helping the vulnerable while encouraging resilience and self-reliance is a smarter, more sustainable path.

This is a moment of reckoning. The climate crisis is no longer abstract. It is here, and its effects are being felt more intensely each year. As storms grow in frequency and strength, preparedness is no longer optional, it is existential. This hurricane season, readiness cannot be measured only in stocked pantries or reinforced shutters, but in whether we have taken every step possible to protect our homes, our livelihoods, and our futures.

For those with the means, choosing not to insure is not a form of savings, but a gamble with devastating stakes. Barbados cannot afford to continue rescuing those who had every opportunity to protect themselves and refused to do so.

This is the time to prepare, not panic. This is the time for responsible action, not reactive blame. The government has drawn a line; it is up to each of us to step up, prepare wisely, and do our part.