Catherine Cumberbatch and Derrick Rudon Lead Met Service

Catherine Cumberbatch

There is a new chief at the Belize Met Service. You’ve heard and seen her on the news before. Catherine Cumberbatch who has had thirty years at the Met Service and served as Deputy Chief Meteorologist has now moved up to the chief’s seat. Cumberbatch takes up the position that is left vacant after Dennis Gonguez retired as of last month. Her Deputy seat has been taken up by Derrick Rudon. Both Cumberbatch and Rudon are on a six month probationary period and will be assessed following that period before they officially take up the position. So for now they are both in acting capacities. It is the first time a woman has been at the helm of the Met Service. News Five spoke with a very proud Cumberbatch today.

Catherine Cumberbatch, Acting Chief Met

“Both of us have been working at the Met Office for over thirty years, so we have thirty years of weather experience in the field of meteorology.”

Andrea Polanco

“And you both have your degrees as well?”

Catherine Cumberbatch

“Yes. Both of us have honorary degrees from the University of the West Indies. Both of us have a double major in meteorology and mathematics.”

Andrea Polanco

“Now, this is significant for you. You are the first woman to hold this position at the MET – and a mighty one – as well?”

Catherine Cumberbatch

“Yes. Andrea, it is very significant. I think it is especially for my mother. She is overwhelmed that I got this position and all my other family members and friends. If I call names- there are so many of them. But my mother, Misses Marie Cumberbatch she will be watching the TV. She is so excited and overwhelmed and she has been the spreading the news more than anybody else in the country. My brothers and sisters at home and abroad. My dear friends like Armeid, Florence, Genevieve, Rhonda, OB. All of these guys they have been there supporting me and encouraged me when I feel like I am down and they say Catherine don’t worry and things will get better. So, my biggest fans have been my mom, my family and all my friends.”

Andrea Polanco

“So, you have thirty years experience and a new title- new responsibility as you’ve been put in charge of the Met Service as its Chief. What are your plans for the next six month at least- anything new?”

Catherine Cumberbatch

“Right now we still continue to build the capacity in our office because in a short while a lot of our senior members of the staff will be retiring. So, we will be looking at building capacity in our office by getting the younger people in our office moving up to a higher level so that when we move out we have a smooth transition and we don’t have any lay back. We can hold our head high and say a job well done; we will move on and we don’t have to be scratching our heads and say I need to stay one because of such and such. So, we will have all that mechanism in place. And one of the areas that we really, really want to build on in the office is research; to see and learn more about different phenomenon that is affecting our weather in our region itself. Like how the El Nino/La Nina how it is really related us and how the Caribbean Low Level Jet how that really impacts us. So, we need to do a lot more research.”