Saying the phrase “disaster Preparedness” out loud would drive the average St. Lucian to reminisce the days following Hurricane Allan, Tropical Storm Debbie and Tropical Storm Tomas, among other named weather systems. It would also invoke conversation concerning our readiness of lack thereof to deal with such events. With all that experience, we have still not solidified a perfect plan to adequately prepare, and deal with the aftermath, of disasters like these natural occurrences which are expected to threaten our region every hurricane season (June – November).
Even while that represents a major concern, there are looming man-made disasters that may strike our environment at any time.
The US-Venezuela ‘stand-off’ is one such situation.
While the region goes through each day seemingly unperturbed, the situation appears to be major cause for concern particularly because one of CARICOM’s heavyweights, the twin island state of Trinidad and Tobago, has broken ranks with the regional organization to almost welcome the conflict between the United States and Venezuela. The US has positioned military assets in international waters outside Venezuela while T&T has offered its territory to the United States to facilitate maneuvering.
Armed conflict between these two countries could spell potential economic disaster for regional territories, affecting trade and tourism which is the lifeblood of most of the Caribbean.
Coupled with that is the installation of increased trade tariffs by the United States which has and continues to affect importation costs in the regions chain of supply.
Specifically due to the advent of increased trade tariffs, Canada and Mexico have reportedly gone ahead to secure new and non-traditional trade relations in a deliberate effort to combat shortages and stem adverse local price spikes. While we are no Canada or Mexico, we need to adopt a similar and perhaps more imaginative approach as it relates to the factors that affect volatile and micro economies such as ours. St. Lucia and St. Lucians have gotten quite comfortable with traditions in our operations which has proven to be dangerous, highlighted in times like these. It must be noted that talk of exploring nontraditional markets has come from the likes of Export St. Lucia.
The issue of food security is talked about quite frequently of late but has still not gained the desired traction. In the initial stages of the introduction of food security, and sustainability and a country being able to feed its citizens, the concept was almost laughed off the national discussion table. Again, largely because of our comfort level with the traditional supply chains. But that has changed or is rapidly changing.
The age-old concept of eating what you grow and growing what you eat may not have been all that bad after all. The double benefit of reducing the import bill and keeping the shelves stoked is enough to now take this seriously.
And what of the idea of local processing plants which have been echoing through the political corridors since the 1980s?
While there is no doom and gloom being preached here, it may soon not be a novel idea to entertain a backyard garden, the importance of which will be realized when there is nothing to pick off the supermarket shelves.