St. George's, November 10, 2010 (GIS) – Members of the Cabinet Subcommittee coordinating government's relief assistance to St. Lucia and St. Vincent are recommending that cash donations be made to help with the rehabilitation of the agricultural sectors in the two islands that were lashed by Hurricane Ivan at the end of October.
Agreement on the recommendation was made Wednesday at the second meeting of the subcommittee that is chaired by Senator Arley Gill, the Minister responsible for Information.
He was part of a Grenada delegation who visited St. Lucia and St. Vincent Tuesday for a firsthand look at damages to the islands caused by the passage of Hurricane Tomas. The delegation, headed by Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, also included engineer Cecil Harris, Chief technical Officer (CTO) in the Ministry of Works, Physical Development and Public Utilities.
The agricultural sector – particularly the banana industry – in both St. Lucia and St. Vincent took a beating from the hurricane.
The money for agricultural support will come from a Mediathon that was proposed by the subcommittee and executed through the National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA).
The Mediathon, carried live Tuesday on television and radio, raised EC$200,070.00 through pledges and commitments from individuals and institutions, including the business community.
NaDMA has announced that cash contributions on behalf of St. Lucia and St. Vincent are still being accepted. Contribution can be made at the Grenada Cooperative Bank in the name of the Government of Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia Hurricane Relief Fund. The Bank Account number is 121004900.
The water supply system was severely disrupted in St. Lucia. Sen. Gill and CTO Harris reported that on their visit to St. Lucia Tuesday, they witnessed some people collecting and carrying water that clearly appeared to be dirty.
As result, the Cabinet Subcommittee mandated NaDMA to mobilize another shipment of water to St. Lucia. On November 6, NaDMA airlifted 50 cases of 1.5 litre bottled-water to St. Lucia.
The subcommittee, which will be directly engaging the local private sector in the relief undertaking, is also making arrangements to provide health professionals and logistical support as part of Grenada's contribution to
the post-hurricane recovery.
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