Hurricane Beryl aftermath prompts Barbados' Deputy PM Bradshaw to stress vigilance during current hurricane season

In the wake of Hurricane Beryl’s destructive path through Barbados and the southern Windward Islands, Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw has warned that the current hurricane season is not to be taken lightly.

“This is not a season we can play with in any way,” she said from the floor of the House of Assembly during a brief session on Tuesday morning before the House adjourned until next week to allow ministers and MPs to continue clean-up efforts.

Bradshaw, who also serves as the Minister of Transport and Works, emphasised the gravity of the situation as she highlighted the extensive damage caused by Beryl, particularly along the south coast from Oistins to Hastings.

“We have been very preoccupied with getting a lot of the debris, a lot of the stalls that have been thrown over, a lot of the sand that has made its way onto the main road, to have that removed,” she reported.

She praised the round-the-clock efforts of personnel working to restore normalcy to the island, noting, “There has been a huge effort over the last 24 hours with people working through the night.”

With a tropical wave expected to affect Barbados on Wednesday, Bradshaw reiterated the need for preparedness.

“We want to make sure that we put all the necessary mechanisms in place in the event that we see either flooding or any other circumstances that will be of concern to Barbados,” she said.

The minister urged citizens to take personal responsibility for securing and cleaning their properties. She specifically highlighted the issue of debris clogging pumping stations and drains, emphasising the importance of removing plastics that could exacerbate flooding during emergencies.

Bradshaw reported that the Drainage Unit has already undertaken clearing efforts in several low-lying, flood-prone areas of St Michael, including Murphy Pasture, Brandon’s Beach and along the Princess Alice Highway.