Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines vows to ‘build back better’

Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

#St.VincentandtheGrenadines, July 5, 2024 – “A field of devastation” is how Ralph Gonsalves, the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines describes parts of his country after its dangerous dalliance with historic hurricane Beryl on Monday July 1.  Gonsalves, filming his helicopter surveillance and on the ground inspection of the damage spoke somberly about the destruction wrought on areas like Canouan, Union Island, Mayreau and Palm Island.

“Union is a field of devastation with only the odd building that is not severely damaged or destroyed.  All of the buildings are gone,” he said in a video posted to his Facebook page.

It was reported that 95 percent of buildings were destroyed in the southern islands of the country.  One person was killed when the storm hit as a Category 4 cyclone.

“There is a sense of shock among the people, yet at the same time their determination to rebuild.  Many would like to leave and some came up to me on they want to build it back, build it back better and stronger.”

The second named storm of the Atlantic Hurricane Season rapidly intensified, becoming the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record and with it, violent winds which felled trees, ripped off roofs, smashed structures and wiped out infrastructure.

“There is a lot of trauma.  The faces of men, women and children are strained; it is an extraordinarily difficult time.  Everywhere I go, I am optimistic with people who want to build back. They are saying we are depending on you, we are relying on you.”

He estimates that the need for resources will be great.

“Building back here is going to be huge.”

The Prime Minister surmised that rebuilding will require a commitment to solidarity of “our people and our allies in the region and the international community, but I am sure we will get there.”