A lack of data-sharing across Barbados and the wider Caribbean is constraining climate research and weakening decision-making, with urgent government policy needed to unlock critical datasets, the head of the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology has said.

The principal of the Barbados-based met training agency, Dr David Farrell, complained that CIMH is experiencing challenges obtaining crucial data from Barbados, a situation he warns is limiting decision-making.

Dr Farrell went further to caution that the region could be at a crossroads if those holding the required data continue to refuse to cooperate with scientists.