With that welcoming message, the Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Agency for Reconstruction and Development (ARD), Mr. Richardson Andrews, urged representatives of the insurance and banking fraternities to ensure their staff members recognise the required changes.

Mr. Andrews was addressing a* *Symposium for Financial and Insurance Institutions, which is part of the ongoing Grenada Hurricane Resilient Home Reconstruction Programme G-(HR²) and its implementation component, the Construction Quality Assurance (CQA) Mechanism

The Programme is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and executed by the Organisation of American States (OAS) in collaboration with the ARD.

Mr. Andrews expressed particular gratitude for the Government and people of Canada, in that CIDA has not only funded this particular Programme, but also provided the operational funds for the ARD and has given significant support to Grenada in other developmental areas.

Mr. Andrews said the G-(HR²) is very much in keeping with the ARD motto of ‘Build Back Better’ and if the Programme is successful in achieving “cultural changes” now, “we will make a significant contribution to the future of the Country.”

The one-day Symposium, which was attended by approximately 20 representatives from the banking and insurance sectors, featured a presentation on “Engineering and Insurance” by Grenadian engineer Mr. Tony Gibbs of Consulting Engineering Partnership in Barbados, who conducted part of the earlier CQA training.

Both Mr. Andrews and Mr. Gibbs said there is need for retrofitting of existing buildings. Most houses damaged by Hurricane Ivan have been repaired or reconstructed. However, in many instances, reconstruction is incomplete or temporary. Mr. Gibbs suggested a phased approach for retrofitting and called upon the insurance sector to provide graduated incentives for homeowners. Moreover, he said research programmes need to be implemented that address the benefits and costs associated with retrofitting and that the insurance industry should invest in the preparation of retrofit guidelines for home owners.

Climate change issues must also be built into design standards, given that the life spans of most buildings are usually 50 years or more, he said.

Public education programmes are required to sensitize the population about the importance of planning for “low frequency events” such as earthquakes; while governments in the Caribbean must ensure “effective enforcement” of laws, regulations and modern standards, Mr. Gibbs said.