We have all been touched by the shocking devastation of Hurricane Beryl throughout St Vincent and the Grenadines , especially Union Island , Palm Island , Mayreau and parts of Canouan , as well as parts of Grenada but in particular Carriacou which along with Union Island has suffered mass destruction on an island wide scale. Other islands in the region suffered flood damage and sea surge such as Barbados , and parts of Jamaica are also in a very bad way.
As always we stepped forward to help in as many capacities as possible. Our first attention is always to our team and their families living and working in St Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados.
Marlon Gibson was interviewed by Sky News immediately after the hurricane passed St Vincent and you can see the shock and trauma on his face.
Once we knew our people were ok we set to work air freighting generators to help with the lack of power. No electricity also means no communication because of course you can’t charge your phone. Imagine the horror of being far away or even just on the same island and you cannot check if your loved ones are ok ? Or how their home is ? It’s a truly tragic situation.
Next up was the purchase of Starlink to get WiFi capacity back.
Meanwhile many Aid companies and private benefactors contacted us for both procurement and shipping or airfreight , all of which has been carried out either free , at cost or minimal charge.
We also worked with Europe Caribbean Line who partnered with us to get an Aid ship to call in the UK load to the brim with all types of aid , but also including essential grounds works machinery to start the clean up. As well as anything from friends and family barrels , medical equipment , baby care , food, vehicles , even a stone crusher. Of course stone buildings collapse a huge pile of rubble is left where once was someone’s home.
This cargo all then travels direct to St Vincent from where aid groups such as NEMO and the government manage the process to get the cargo out by ferry to the small islands who cannot accommodate a large ship. It’ s a big logistical programme and also a very long term programme which we will continue to support.
We can only imagine the loss of your home , no schools , or shops or church. Just waiting to possibly be relocated short term to a hurricane shelter on another island.
However the positive shining light is the sheer resilience of the Caribbean people. They will rebuild and they will Rise Up again.
