BASSETERRE, St. Kitts -- Recent international rumors that have trickled down to the Federation have prompted Abdias Samuel, head of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to address conspiracy theories and misinformation.
Following Hurricane Beryl's impact on St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada, claims have circulated internationally alleging chemicals were released into the atmosphere, causing the hurricane.
The misinformation has spread locally, raising concerns about public preparedness as the Atlantic hurricane season approaches its peak.
"I want to debunk what is being said about the chemicals being placed in the air," Samuel told reporters at a recent media engagement.
He clarified that he has not received any scientific reports supporting such claims. Instead, he highlighted the presence of Saharan dust, originating from the desert and traveling across the Atlantic towards the Caribbean and North America.
"Now, what is somewhat comforting is the fact that the Saharan dust seems to be coming off the African coast and is causing some significant disruption to the development of these storms,” Samuel cautiously noted, looking ahead to what is expected to be an active remainder of the season.
Meanwhile, citizens were urged to rely only on credible sources for information, given the prevalence of misinformation on social media.
“What I would like the general public to do themselves as well is to look at some of the international agencies that are responsible for providing those types of forecasts,” added Samuels.
Forecasters have predicted an "above-normal" hurricane season, anticipating 17-25 named storms. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), of these storms, 8 to 13 are expected to become hurricanes, with 4 to 7 potentially becoming major hurricanes.
