With the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season just days away, the United Kingdom has signed a new agreement with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to boost regional disaster response efforts.
At a signing ceremony in Barbados, British High Commissioner Simon Mustard confirmed that the UK will make US$375,000 available to assist hurricane-affected countries across the region, with US$50,000 already allocated for immediate response.
CDEMA Executive Director Elizabeth Riley welcomed the support, especially considering recent US funding cuts to key disaster agencies. She noted that despite budget reductions under the Trump administration, the US has pledged to continue operating NOAA’s hurricane hunter aircraft, an essential tool for storm forecasting in the region.
Ms. Riley also highlighted new support from the European Union, which is providing access to advanced forecasting and satellite modelling tools.
Additionally, CDEMA signed logistics agreements with Kestrel Shipping and Sunrise Airways to expand regional response capabilities.
