BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – GOVERNMENT officials on both St. Kitts and Nevis have tallied the overall damage resulting from the passage of Hurricane Irma as over EC$50M.
Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris made the disclosure to the media yesterday (Sept. 14) at his first press conference since the passage of Hurricane Irma.
According to Dr. Harris, St Kitts and Nevis was spared direct hits and consequently there was no loss of life, adding that while the Federation fared better than most islands in the Caribbean region, it is not without its share of difficulties.
A preliminary estimate showed that the Federation had suffered EC$53.3M million in damage from the Category 5 Hurricane.
St. Kitts received the brunt of the storm damage, according to PM Harris, as losses totalled $41M with the Agriculture being the hardest hit sector, while Nevis sustained $12.3M in damage.
“The preliminary damage assessment report for St. Kitts has been prepared by Mr. Cromwell Williams, Director of Public Works/Chairman of the Damage Assessment and Recovery Committee (DARC) of NEMA. The preliminary damage assessment report for Nevis has been prepared by Mr. Brian Dyer, who is the Disaster Manager at the Nevis Disaster Management Department in the Premier’s Ministry.”
Providing a detailed break-down of losses, Dr. Harris disclosed that for St. Kitts: the Water Services recorded $1,328,000; Electricity $3,583,300; Road/Quarry $500,000; Housing $5,880,000; Government Buildings $250,000; Agriculture $10,497,000; Coastal Erosion $11,000,000; Forest damage $5,500,000; Sports Facilities (including pavilion in Mansion) $1,550,000; SCASPA $885,000; and NEMA/Security Personnel Overtime Payment $200,000; giving a total of EC$ 41,173, 300.
For Nevis, the Social Sectors – which include Housing, Environment, Health and Education – recorded $5,901, 488 in damage; Infrastructure – Jetties, $4,731,086; Economic Sectors (Agriculture and Tourism) $1, 344, 236.
Elaborating on the damage to Housing, Dr. Harris said it ranges from minor (loss of shingles) to significant damage - where structures could not be safely occupied without substantial repairs.
“The National Housing Corporation (NHC) reported a number of homes across St. Kitts were affected. The largest numbers are in NEMA districts Three, Six, Seven and Eight.”
Agriculture and Marine officials recorded losses of a number green houses, fruit trees, animal feed, crop fencing, pig pens, equipment and hundreds of animals.
The Federal Government is expected to receive US$2.2M from the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF), through a Tropical Cyclone policy.
