Following the horrors of the 2017 hurricane season, the United Kingdom came under criticism in the Caribbean for its slow response to the disasters that hit its British Overseas Territories (BOT). In the Caribbean region,
the BOT are: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands. This year (2018) was quite different: the UK sent a team of specialists to the Caribbean. Announcing that the UK’s armed forces have been pre-positioned in the Caribbean region ahead of the hurricane season, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said that the regular crew of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s ship RFA Mounts Bay (mobile hub of the British relief efforts) had been augmented by 87 engineers, medics, maritime experts and other specialists. In addition, he said, some 1,000 personnel are deployed or are being held at high-readiness in case more hurricanes head towards the region. As well as being able to carry vital aid and equipment, its mobile hub, the RFA Mounts Bay will use its helicopter to provide aerial support in rescue and relief operations.