–          St. Vincent and Grenadines, Grenada Prime Ministers say in aftermath of Hurricane Beryl
–          All CARICOM states rallying together to supply aid, support
–          Regional transshipment hub established

THE islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines as well as Grenada have been left in a state of devastating peril following the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, with preliminary assessments documenting significant destruction.
Nevertheless, both Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada have reassured their citizens that every possible measure will be taken to reconstruct in a more robust and improved manner.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves stated that during his visit to the Grenadines Islands, which were severely impacted by Beryl’s landfall, he observed a sense of shock and trauma among the people, but also a resolute determination to rebuild.
“We are going to build it back, better and stronger …we are going to turn this set back into an advance,” Prime Minister Gonsalves said on Wednesday in a short video documentary published on his official Facebook page.
The government is presently offering shelter, assistance, and provisions to those who have been impacted. Furthermore, there is currently a ferry service operating to assist individuals who desire to relocate from the Grenadines islands to the mainland.
In Grenada, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has stated that the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique have been completely devastated.
“Because we have life, we have hope. We will rebuild stronger, together,” Prime Minister Mitchell said in a post to his official Facebook page.
REGIONAL RESPONSE
Meanwhile, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Executive Director, Elizabeth Riley during a press conference on Wednesday disclosed that the emergency operation center on that island has been activated.
The CDEMA coordinating unit activated the regional coordination plan at 5am on 29 June. Our regional coordination centre was activated on June 30 to address the response. There was an emergency meeting of the heads of government of CARICOM [Caribbean Community] on July 2 to discuss and make provision for how the community will be supporting its neighbours
“We have activated within the regional coordination centre a number of thematic groups, including the relief and logistics thematic group. And this group co-chaired by CDEMA and the world food programme are in the process of establishing a relief transshipment hub at shed one of the Barbados port,” Riley said.
Additionally, a telecommunications team has also been dispatched to St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.
While there have been reports of fatalities in the two islands, CDEMA on Wednesday could not confirm a number, but indicated that there has been vast destruction.