Remarks By

Honourable Kye M. Rymer

MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKS

OPENING REMARKS AS INCOMING CHAIRMAN

OF THE CARIBBEAN METEOROLOGICAL COUNCIL,

At The 67th Session Of The Caribbean Meteorological Council

Good Morning Everyone,

Allow me to recognise the Acting Premier, Honourable Julian Frazer, Junior Minister for Tourism, Honourable Luce Hodge-Smith, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, Mrs. Elvia Smith-Maduro. 

I must acknowledge the Heads of Departments (HODs) here in the Virgin Islands.  I see the Director for the Department of Disaster Management, Mr. Jasen Penn, Managing Director for the BVI Airports Authority, Mr. Kurt Menal.  I also want to acknowledge the Chairman for the CTU, Mr. Rodney Taylor, as well as the outgoing Chair, the Minister for Public Utilities, from Trinidad. We also have the Minister for Port, Transport and Physical development and Urban renewal, from St. Lucia.

I also acknowledge the esteemed delegates of CMO Member States, representatives from the World Meteorological Organization, ICAO, UNDRR, CMO, CARDI, CTU, The UWI, the observers, and members of the media and our GIS team— good morning.

It is my honor to welcome you to the 67th Session of the Caribbean Meteorological Council, hosted here in the beautiful Virgin Islands — a testament to our commitment to climate resilience and sustainable development.

This gathering presents us with a unique opportunity to reflect on our achievements, identify gaps, and outline a forward-thinking agenda that aligns with global initiatives such as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the Early Warnings for All initiative. Our shared mission is clear: to ensure that no one in our region is left without access to the timely and actionable information needed to safeguard lives, protect livelihoods, and build climate resilience.

Meteorological services lie at the heart of disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, and economic stability. The critical functions of our National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) — including early warnings, impact-based forecasting, and support for strategic decision-making — are essential for protecting life and property, enhancing aviation and marine safety, and supporting key economic sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and fisheries.

In the Virgin Islands, our economy is deeply intertwined with weather and climate conditions. Recognising this, we are taking deliberate steps to establish a National Meteorological Service that will serve as a cornerstone for building a resilient and sustainable territory. This initiative aligns with our National Sustainable Development Plan and will enhance our ability to respond to severe weather events, mitigate disaster risks, and contribute to regional and international meteorological efforts.

The UN’s Early Warnings for All initiative is an urgent call to action that demands for our collective effort. We know that early warnings save lives, reduce economic loss, and empower communities to act before disaster strikes. Achieving this ambitious goal requires investments in infrastructure, technology, human resources, and partnerships.

Our region has already witnessed the transformative impact of events like Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the infamous Irma and Maria in 2017, Dorian in 2019, and Beryl earlier this year.  Even this month, islands in the Eastern Caribbean experienced devastating flash flooding, unrelated to tropical cyclones, while broad swaths of the region faced record-breaking heat, as predicted by the Regional Climate Centre and our National Climate Services.

These events underscore the multi-hazard risk environment of the Caribbean and highlight the importance of accurate forecasting and timely communication that enables anticipatory actions by all sectors. While we have drawn valuable lessons from regional successes in forecasting and early warning, we must do more to ensure that every individual in the Caribbean — whether on a farm, at sea, or in remote areas — receive the information they need to make informed decisions.

For over 50 years, the CMO has demonstrated the power of regional cooperation in advancing meteorological services and addressing climate-related challenges. Initiatives like the Regional Forecasting and Warning Arrangements, the Hurricane Committee, the Severe Weather Forecasting Programme, the development of Model Meteorological Legislation and the National Strategic Plans for Meteorological Services provide a robust foundation for the sustainability and governance of NMHSs. This Council session occurs at a pivotal time as we envision the next fifty years.

In the Virgin Islands, we are grateful for the CMO’s support as we work toward establishing our National Meteorological Service. The expertise and guidance provided by the CMO and the World Meteorological Organization are invaluable as we navigate this transformative journey.

Looking ahead, we must maintain our focus on modernizing our meteorological services to meet the evolving demands of a changing climate. These include four points:

1. Prioritising the deployment of technology, infrastructure, and systems to deliver precise and timely warnings to all communities. 

2. Enhancing Impact-Based Forecasting so our forecasts must go beyond predicting weather to providing actionable insights that inform decision-making and drive desirable responses from our communities. 

3. Building Capacity through professional training and knowledge sharing, which are critical for equipping our National Meteorological and Hydrometeorological Services with the skills and expertise needed to address emerging challenges. 

4. Securing Climate Finance through the exploration of innovative financing mechanisms to ensure sustainable investments in meteorological services.

As I assume the chairmanship of the Caribbean Meteorological Council, I am committed to fostering a collaborative and forward-looking approach to strengthening meteorological and hydro-meteorological services across our region. Let us seize this moment to reaffirm our shared commitment to delivering early warnings for all and ensuring that our meteorological services and their core partners, such as the disaster risk management agencies, are equipped to meet the demands for a climate-resilient Caribbean.

In closing, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the CMO for its steadfast leadership and to all Member States for their dedication to advancing meteorology and related sciences for the benefit of our people.

I also want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of my team, including my Permanent Secretary, my Private Secretary, and the entire team who have worked tirelessly to make this event a success. Together, we can build a region where every individual has access to the life-saving information they need, where communities are resilient to climate impacts, and where sustainable development is within reach.

Thank you, and I look forward to the fruitful discussions and the outcome of this session.

Thank you.