Guyana recognised for supporting Grenada post-Hurricane Ivan

ON September 7, 2004, Hurricane Ivan, a Category Three storm, struck the Caribbean island of Grenada, causing widespread destruction. Eight-nine (89) per cent of the country’s housing stock and most schools on the island were damaged. There was as well, severe destruction of the health services and the agriculture sector.
A decade after, Grenada remembers Hurricane Ivan, and in its remembrance, the country has also shown its support and appreciation to those countries and organisations that contributed to its restoration following the disaster.
On Friday, September 5, when the country hosted its Annual Disaster Awareness Showcase under the theme, “Remembering the Past, Celebrating the Present and Preparing for the future,” at the Grenada Trade Centre, on Morne Rogue, in the capital, St. George’s, Guyana was among the countries honoured for its support and hospitality in the aftermath of the devastation.
Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Mr Juan Edghill, who represented Guyana at the event, received the Award on the nation’s behalf from former Governor-General, Sir Daniel Williams.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, the financial cost of the devastation to Grenada was estimated at more than US$900M, more than twice the country’s GDP. The hurricane had damaged an estimated 27,000 homes, displacing over half of the population. It affected nearly every school on the island, prompting the government to declare education a priority sector. Further, 69 per cent of the infrastructure in the health sector was damaged, and as a result, health care continued to be available in the aftermath of the disaster only on a limited scale. Hurricane Ivan also caused widespread damage to the island’s principal agricultural crop, Nutmeg.
In Guyana, there was a joint response between Government and the Private Sector to the plight of a sister Caribbean country, and there was the provision of humanitarian aid, both by air and sea.
There was the sensitisation of Guyanese to the Government’s offer of repatriation and tangible assistance on Government’s part. Twenty-six (26) containers containing relief items from Guyana were sent to Grenada.
Guyana’s assistance also included taking up the $40M bill for sugar supplies that were in Grenada when the hurricane struck. The Government of Guyana repaid the Guyana Sugar Corporation for the shipment.
In addition, 100 Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldiers were deployed to Grenada for a six-month period to assist in the rebuilding process. Among the party of soldiers were carpenters and electricians. The Guyana Government financially supported the soldiers’ mission there and their upkeep for the six months.

(GINA)