Bridgetown, September 12 (RHC)– Upon recognizing that the growing intensity of weather systems in the Caribbean is the new norm, Barbados’ prime minister Mia Mottley stressed that the way business is done in the region has to change.

Prime minister Mottley toured parts of The Bahamas hit by Category 5 Hurricane Dorian last week, after which she made it clear that the way business was done in Barbados and the Caribbean had to change, as it related to preparing for such weather systems.

Mottley outlined her government’s plan of action to boost Barbados’ resilience.

“We have a responsibility as Caribbean people to redefine how we live, and how we bolster our resilience for what is clearly a new norm,” she said.

Topping the list of proposed changes is the way houses are built in Barbados. She explained that Cabinet had agreed that the Ministry of Housing would issue a request for proposals, inviting architects and engineers to submit three to four designs for low and middle income houses.

The second part of the government’s action plan involves the clean-up process, which Mottley described as being “critical” and should involve clearing the alleys, canals, water courses and around residences.

The Prime Minister added that it was also important for persons to remove objects that could become missiles from around their homes.

“We must now become a resilient people, not just Barbadians, but Caribbean people across the board, prime minister Mottley said, adding that that readiness and resilience comes from us (Caribbean people) preparing ourselves in how we build, and in how we keep around our environment.”