The hurricane season brings financial concerns in the Caribbean Sea region

For some Barbudan, thunderstorms still lead to the emergence of night memories in September 2017 when they lost everything they have The destroyed winds of Irma.

Eight years later, although memories may be close to the hand, home insurance for many on Barboda and other islands in the Caribbean Hurricane belt is more expensive than ever.

Through the region’s installments across the roof in the past two years, as it has risen by up to 40 % in some islands, according to industry numbers.

Experts blame an ideal storm to increase risk – where you see the area thrive and fastest hurricanes more intense – however, the young people of people pay for policies, equality with bad returns for insurance companies.

The home of Dwayet Benjamin Barboda was one of the relatively non -left left by Irma. After the storm, he invested in an extension of one room covered with a concrete ceiling that would serve as a shelter for his family that should hit disasters again.

“I think the house should be healthy enough, but this is my additional protection,” he says.

With the peak hurricane season in full swing, Dwight is among the many Caribbean people who watch the weather platforms of activity in the Atlantic Ocean. If the system is heading on its way, it will do as it did during Irma – hope and prayer.

“I never had any insurance. Most Barbodo really don’t think it is worth it. It is just an additional account of the small resources we have,” he explains.

“In addition, we believe in what we have done and that it should be able to tolerate the weather.”

Like Dwit, many Caribbean people build “outside the pocket” homes, instead of choosing real estate mortgages that can have high interest rates in this part of the world.

The majority of homes in the islands affected by hurricanes are not insured. in Jamaica only 20 % It is said that the presence of a cover, and Just half in Barbados.

It is not just storms that threaten the area, but earthquakes and volcanoes as well, notes Peter Levy, head of the BCIC.

As a result of these threats of the natural disaster, which Mr. Levy calls the “unique market” for the Caribbean, the cost of home insurance will be always high.

Antiguan insurance company, Anjo, usually charges between 1.3 % and 1.7 % of the value of the house. While in the UK, for example, it can be less than 0.2 %.

The Atlantic Hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30, with the most activity between mid -August and mid -October. The Northern Caribbean, such as Antigua, Barbuda, Bahamas, British Virgin, and Dominican Republic, are among the most vulnerable to the risk of direct strike.

Muhammad Walruk, a resident of Barbudan, says that the most important the most famous of the peak can be a solid for people with a shock associated with IRMA. He says: “Whenever there is an advertisement for an upcoming storm on our way, it restores bad memories. For some, even thunder and lightning are an operator.”

In 2017, Muhammad took over in the bathroom with his mother, father, sister and brother when Irma’s winds were torn from his parents ’house from his parents’ house.

His non -insured property from two bedrooms was damaged. It was one of the many Barbodians who got a new home with international donor assistance.

While some countries of the Caribbean Sea region – such as the British -Turks and Kikos, which were beaten by Irma – have emergency cash reserves that can help restore post -storm, others do not have this luxury.

For Antigua and Barbuda deeply, agencies such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) are a lifeline in the wake of a natural disaster.

The country’s Prime Minister Gaston Brown estimated the cost of rebuilding Barouda after Irma, where 90 % of the buildings were damaged, which amounted to 200 million dollars (148 million pounds). The assistance came from China, the European Union and Venezuela, among others.

In 2017, the UNDP program increased $ 25 million for Barbuda and the country of Dominica Al Jazeera, which was destroyed by Hurricane Maria in the same month.

Money recovered more than 800 broken buildings across the two islands. But the body’s intervention was decisive in other ways as well.

With the destruction of livelihoods, the United Nations Monetary Development Program for Work Hundreds of Local Populations who found themselves suddenly worked.

They helped in everything from removing the debris to rebuild homes and infrastructure, including Barboda Hospital and the post office.

“Injecting economic resources into affected families helps to revitalize the local economy,” he says.

Nearly 1,000 contractors have also been trained in more flexible “building” building techniques, to protect structures against future disasters.

“The climate changes and puts more pressure on governments and societies. Storms have become more frequent, more intense and have occurred early in the year,” Gamarra continues.

It believes that expanding partnerships with the private sector and other countries in the region may help relieve effects.

One of these mechanisms is the Caribbean Caribbean Risk Equipment facility, including 19 caramel government members. It was created after Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the first risk reduction project allows member governments to purchase disaster coverage at a low cost.

Last year, it made record payments of up to $ 85 million for the Hurricane Pirel Islands.

Sherrod James, Director of the Disaster Services Office in the country, explains.

The buildings of the buildings to be used as storm shelters, as well as training volunteers to tell them, say months before the start of the season.

“We also meet the private sector, help them set policies and preparations in place, and look at the safety and flexibility of their buildings. We make sure our computer partners are ready, such as ports.

“We are doing a lot of pre -emptive works to address the selection points within the waterways that can exacerbate the floods,” says Mr. James. “These days, storms can be transmitted from the category to five to five per day. The new rule has thrown the old regiment to what to do; we must be more active now.”

For many Barbodan, this time of the year will always bring fear. Dwight was among the dozens of who recently attended the memory of Hurricane Irma in the island of Pentecost.

“It was very influential and returned a lot of memories,” he says. “At this time of the year, we watch the weather and arrest our fingers. But we are flexible people and we know how to survive.”