The eastern Caribbean: cooperation in action Campaign to raise awareness of climate risks in St. Lucia

The social and economic consequences of extreme weather events in the Caribbean are devastating, as several hurricanes showed in recent years. However, the threat is not just from hurricanes; increasingly heavy rainfall that leads to flooding and mudslides is also a threat for local communities.

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Beach with boat in Anse-la-Raye, St Lucia, Caribbean

That is the case for Anse-la-Raye on St. Lucia, an island state in the Caribbean. This community of 7,000 inhabitants lies in a valley between two rivers. Heavy rain keeps causing floods in the area and the rivers cut off any escape routes to the safety of the mountains.

Some inhabitants responded to a state initiative and relocated to the surrounding mountains. However, many people have remained where they are – some of them because they do not want to leave their social environment, but also some of them because they are not aware of the dangers.

Raising awareness about the dangers and consequences of natural disasters

The German government has commissioned (External link) the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to support a series of awareness-raising campaigns by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, OECS. The awareness raising is a two-way street. The OECS Commission organises “town hall” meetings where both local residents and local government representatives talk about their experiences and their concerns. The Commission also uses the meetings to share information about the dangers that the town’s population faces because of natural disasters, and also about the possible need to relocate.

Challenges with regard to relocation measures

Whilst many local people are indeed willing to relocate, there is a lack of financial support for them. The little town of Anse-la-Raye is in one of the poorest regions of St. Lucia and, according to Stephen Griffith, the chair of the local disaster committee, not everyone living there is able to buy one of the plots of land made available by the government.

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A road in the Caribbean nation of St Lucia was washed away after heavy rain.

Protecting parts of the town against flooding

The heavy pollution of the river bed as a result of the flooding in Anse-la-Raye often means that the flood water is either unable to flow away at all or it flows away more slowly. The German development cooperation activities have therefore included dredging the two rivers that flow through the community. In addition, the restoration of the mangroves near the town creates natural flood plains that protect the town from flooding And, what is more, the mangrove forests also create opportunities for economic development in the tourism sector.