Following a pledge of support to those Caribbean islands impacted by Hurricane Beryl, last week Premier David Burt presented a $20,000 cheque to assist the relief and recovery efforts in the countries of St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Grenada and Jamaica.
During the presentation, the Premier was joined by the Deputy Premier, Minister Walter Roban and MP Christopher Famous.
The cheque was jointly presented to Mr. Frank Dublin representing Grenada, Mr. Douglas Joslyn representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines and to Donna Millington, Destinee Taylor Williams of the Jamaican Association. Also in attendance were J’hordon Emery, of St. George’s University, President of the West Indian Association, Mr. Anil Chatergoon, and former Jamaican Senator, Grace Imani Duncan-Price.
Residents will be aware that Hurricane Beryl made landfall in the Caribbean as a dangerous category 4 storm on July 1, causing significant destruction and impacting thousands of people.
At the time of Beryl's impact, Premier Burt pledged that the Government of Bermuda would make a donation towards the relief effort to assist those affected by the storm.
Following the cheque presentation, Premier Burt said, “It was heartening to provide some measure of support to the relief and recovery efforts post Hurricane Beryl. Beryl affected Barbados, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tobago, Cayman Islands and Jamaica resulting in fatalities, injuries, and extensive infrastructural damage.
Countless homes have been damaged or destroyed in the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique of Grenada, and Union Island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. And many are in need of basic necessities such as food and shelter.
“So, in some small way, we wanted to assist our CARICOM member and associate members. We will continue to keep these affected countries in our prayers and in our hearts as they grapple with the monumental recovery efforts that lie ahead.”
It should be noted that each year $50,000 is placed in the Government Budget for regional disaster support to assist CARICOM countries if needed.