Caribbean leaders are calling for greater investment in disaster preparedness and resilience as climate-related hazards become more frequent and increasingly costly across the region.
The call was made during the launch of the 14th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM 14), which Guyana will host from December 7 to 12, 2026.
The conference will bring together governments, development partners, businesses, academics and civil society organisations to assess the region’s readiness to respond to disasters and other emerging threats.
Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Elizabeth Riley, warned that Caribbean nations are facing an increasingly complex risk environment driven by climate change, economic pressures, supply chain disruptions and reduced access to development financing.
“Climate-related hazards are becoming more frequent and more intense. And as climate impacts increase, so too do the costs,” Riley said during the launch ceremony.
She noted that resilience must now be viewed as a governance, development and economic priority, rather than solely an emergency response function.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips echoed those sentiments, urging governments to take a proactive approach to risk management.
“To govern well in this environment is to govern at the speed of risk. Anticipating threats before they mature, investing ahead of need, coordinating across borders and acting with resolve when the moment demands it,” the Prime Minister said.
Phillips highlighted Guyana’s ongoing efforts to strengthen resilience through expanded early warning systems, disaster risk management initiatives, new emergency response facilities and legislation governing oil pollution preparedness and response.
He also pointed to investments in technology, satellite data and communications systems aimed at improving the country’s ability to respond to emergencies and protect critical infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Deputy Executive Director of CDEMA, Colonel Kester Craig, stressed that the impacts of disasters extend far beyond damaged buildings and infrastructure.
“When disasters occur in the Caribbean, the impacts are not only measured by the cost of the response efforts or the infrastructure losses. Our livelihoods are disrupted, infrastructure and ecosystems are damaged, families are displaced, and our education and health systems are interrupted,” Craig said.
He called for stronger partnerships among governments, regional organisations, financial institutions, development partners and the private sector to build resilience across the Caribbean.
CDM 14 will focus on strengthening resilience across key sectors, including agriculture, energy, water, finance and infrastructure, while advancing practical solutions to help Caribbean countries better prepare for future disasters.
The conference is expected to serve as a major platform for shaping the next phase of the region’s disaster management and resilience agenda.
