The Government of Saint Lucia has launched a new National Hydro-Meteorological Policy aimed at improving how the country tracks and responds to weather and climate threats.
The move is expected to make forecasts more accurate, warnings more timely, and planning more informed, especially in the face of storms, floods, droughts, and other hazards that regularly affect the island.
The policy sets out seven key goals, including:
- Upgrading systems that monitor and predict weather and climate patterns
- Improving how warnings are delivered to the public
- Making climate information more useful for farmers, builders, tourism operators, and other sectors
At the launch event on September 4, Infrastructure Minister Stephenson King said the policy offered Saint Lucians better tools to prepare for and respond to natural hazards.
He noted that the country faces frequent threats – from hurricanes and floods to volcanic activity and Saharan dust – and needs reliable information to protect lives and livelihoods.
King also pointed out that while Saint Lucia already has climate-related policies, they don’t go far enough in helping communities use weather and climate data in everyday decisions. This new policy aims to fill that gap by making meteorological services more practical and accessible.
Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that weather and climate information helps people stay safe and plan ahead.
King also highlighted the importance of meteorological legislation, stating it is crucial to maintain and enhance the authoritative role of the meteorological services and ensure that all agencies and institutions follow clear, nationally legislated guidelines.
He urged continued support, saying, “make this the beginning and not the end of our commitment to meteorological services, policy, and legislation.”
