Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart announced the launch of the Coastal Risk Assessment and Management Program – the first project in the region to assess potential vulnerability to storm surges and tsunamis

"This new program is being viewed with great interest globally, as Barbados will be one of the first countries to incorporate coastal risks into a mature and successful integrated coastal zone management program," the prime minister said at a ceremony recently.

The project will collect data for agencies within the National Emergency Management System, so that a national response procedure can be developed to minimize coastal risks and respond to disasters. Barbados has already signed a US$30 million loan with the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) to support the program.

"The Coastal Zone Management Unit's technical team must be commended for the conceptualization and development of its components," said Stuart. "As a result, Barbados as a small island developing state is now a champion of coastal best practices at the regional and international levels and coastal states across the globe are seeking technical assistance and advice from our coastal experts."