THE WATER OUTAGE which disrupted residential and commercial life in Bridgetown on Friday and to a lesser extent Saturday, should be a wake-up call for all Barbados. If there is one lesson learnt, it should be that we must be more savvy about having a continuity plan in place – one which covers a wide range of possibilities.
Fortunately, Barbados has not had many disasters – natural or man-made – in the last decade, so that despite being in a hurricane zone, we are often unprepared. The last-minute rush to gather essentials at the announcement of any pending adverse weather systems best highlights the problem.
In the commercial sector the emphasis appears to be on disaster recovery by businesses which seek to secure their mission-critical data to allow for a continuation of business after a disruption. That’s a sensible approach, albeit missing a key component. Most plans do not cater for employees remaining on the job and being productive in the case of “a disaster” such as a water or power outage.
Friday’s water main rupture meant that many people were inconvenienced and there would have been negative fallout given that businesses, non-governmental organisations and Government departments were forced to close early.
That disruption of the water supply did catch many businesses – big and small – napping highlights the importance of planning for any and all types of eventualities. It also highlighted why recovery plans must not be seen as the preserve only of Government and big businesses, some of which are surprisingly ill-equipped for certain developments. With no warning of what was coming, many of The City’s residents would have been left totally at the mercy of the water tankers. Just imagine if the problem had been exacerbated.
The Barbados Water Authority (BWA) is undertaking a major mains replacement programme throughout Bridgetown and there is always the risk that one of the old water mains or even the sewage system could be ruptured. The consequences must not be allowed to devastate either business activity or households.
Business continuity planners need to consider water and power outages since like any other asset, their proper management could offer a competitive edge.
This situation raises the question as to how well prepared and equipped the tourism sector is for a disruption in either water or electrical supplies, and what are the learnt lessons for City businesses and residents from Friday’s experience. Simply blaming Government is not going to provide a solution. Rather, businesses and householders need to be more proactive and resilient.
Emergency plans must not be all about data, and even though we agree that this is vital, a heavy emphasis must be placed on people. Protecting business assets and keeping households functioning are paramount. Being prepared at the commercial or individual level will make a big difference.
