CARICOM Bands Together for Hurricane Relief Efforts

After days of preparation, Belize was spared from the impact of Hurricane Beryl as it bypassed the country on its path through the Yucatan Peninsula. The hurricane made landfall in Mexico, as a category two storm, however, it began as a category five, and was the first ever to be recorded in the month of June. On Monday, Beryl ripped through the southeast Caribbean, devastating islands such as Saint Vincent, Grenada, and Jamaica. In a message from the Secretary General, Doctor Carla Banett explained that CARICOM member states have come together and are providing urgent support to each other as they seek to recover. On Thursday, CARICOM celebrated the fifty-first anniversary of its formation. This year’s commemoration underlined the community’s desire for continued partnerships and willingness to assist in times of need. Doctor Barnett further stressed the importance of keeping to climate change commitments as the early formation and intensity of Beryl indicate the warming of the sea’s impacts on the region. Barnett concluded by reiterating the community’s objective, stating, “together, we will build on the gains of regional integration, address the challenges of recovery and sustainable economic growth and development, and shape an inclusive, resilient and thriving Community for all.”