BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Regional Security System (RSS) confirmed that it will be coordinating security efforts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada as recovery efforts intensify following the devastation left by Hurricane Beryl.
The storm battered the territories and some of their dependent smaller islands, leaving at least three deaths and causing millions, if not billions, of dollars in damage to houses, infrastructure, and government buildings.
As citizens and residents continue to pick up the pieces, concerns about safety and security persist. To address these, the RSS is arranging logistics on the ground. Commodore Errington Shurland, Executive Director of the Regional Security System, stated, “RSS HQ recognises the critical need for immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, and we are dedicated to providing the necessary support to the affected islands.”
“Currently, there is a dire need for food, water, fuel, and other essentials. To this end, the Regional Response Mechanism (RRM) has been mobilised, and the RSS is currently coordinating the activities for a safe, effective, and efficient deployment of resources to assist the stricken islands in providing security and relief aid in the process.
“The safety and security of our people are of utmost importance, and in keeping with our mission ‘to ensure the stability and well-being of Member States through mutual cooperation,’ our troops are positioned and ready to assist in the protection of the residents and visitors in these islands,” he added.
The Federation has sent five members to join the RSS, who will join representatives from Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and other personnel.
“Police and military personnel from our Member States, deployed under the RSS banner, are scheduled to be on the ground in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada by Thursday, July 4, 2024. They will come under the command of country authorities for tasking as necessary,” revealed Shurland.
He extended condolences to the family and friends of those who were killed during the storm and called for everyone to continue to keep those affected in their thoughts and prayers.
Hurricane Beryl slammed St. Vincent and the Grenadines and its territories, and Grenada and its territories, as a major Category 4/5 storm.
