On 15th December 2008, the European Commission approved €4.1 million in Grant Funding to construct and install a new digital weather radar in the Cayman Islands. The grant document was signed with the Cayman Islands Airport Authority (CIAA), which has overall responsibility for the Project, using resources of the 9th European Development Fund (EDF), while the Caribbean Meteorological Organization, based in Trinidad and Tobago, will be contracted to provide service to the CIAA.
The Cayman Islands are highly vulnerable to a range of natural hazards, including hurricanes and earthquakes. Because of its small size, the Cayman Islands have limited financial capacity to respond to adverse natural events.. The inability of the Cayman Islands to respond effectively, physically and financially, often slows recovery, which exacerbates the poverty impact of natural disasters
It is against this background, that it is critical to have in place early warning systems and adequate local measures to protect life and property. Furthermore, it is critical that accurate, timely and detailed weather data, including the likely effects on a localized area, is accessible to the Cayman Islands as well as to key regional entities in order to ensure effective regional co-operation and disaster prevention actions.
The Grant Contract will have activity in the following areas: