BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – CHAIRMAN of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr. the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell, together with Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque visited the British Virgin Island and pledged to fully support its recovery efforts.
Ambassador LaRocque, spoke with the Island’s Premier, Dr. Orlando Smith, and indicated that the pictures and videos do not give the full extent of the damage to that island, until people are on the ground to see firsthand is the full scale.
Since the passage of Hurricane Irma, a major Category 5 storm with winds of 185 mph, it has left some of the picturesque islands in the region in ruins, including the British Virgin Islands.
According to reports from the island chain, most of the buildings were destroyed while power lines remain down and communications slowly being restored.
Preliminary reports coming out of the island indicated that one person was killed as a result of the storm.
The Secretary General assured Premier Smith that the entire CARICOM is behind them, as the Secretariat had received many calls to find out ways that people and organizations could assist the ravaged island.
According to LaRocque, CEDMA, the United Nations and international partners continue to gather resources and manpower to assist the British overseas territory.
He stated that supplies are being staged in Antigua with the view to being shipped to the island.
“We would continue to work with you. One of the things that the Heads of Government have mandated us to do is work with all the affected countries…”
In the meantime, the emergency supplies are coming in, the private sector is mobilizing to bring resources and donations as well, LaRocque said when he met with the Premier yesterday (Sept. 12).
“When I go back I would ask Guyana to start sending some electric poles for you, because I see all your poles are down.”
The Government of Guyana has pledged US$50,000 in a first repose to assist the hurricane-affected countries.
CARICOM will be hosting a donor conference to assist those islands that were hardest hit by the hurricane, the Secretary General noted.
