PM: SVG facing immense challenge

“We are facing an immense challenge.”

These were the words of Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves as he briefed members of the media Wednesday, April 13,{{more}} one day after sections along the North Windward coast were destroyed by torrential rains.

Basing his comment on his preliminary assessment of the damage, the prime minister opined that the damage to the physical infrastructure, excluding housing, exceeded that done by Hurricane Tomas, which affected the country in October last year.

According to Gonsalves, the estimated total cost of the damage was estimated to reach in the tens of millions of dollars in repairs, to add to the large sums still needed in the aftermath of Hurricane Tomas.

“People are seeing now the destruction of Tomas,” the prime minister said.

Gonsalves told reporters that there were three “unsexy” outcomes from Tomas which included the EC$31 million worth of damage to the forests and the issue of logs in the rivers, the extent of damage done to river defenses and damage the coastline.

“These are not sexy subjects, but now that we have torrential rainfall and landslides, we see the consequences,” the prime minister affirmed.

He told reporters that based on what he had seen, a large portion of money will have to be spent on river defenses.

This will be added to the work that will be needed to repair bridges such as the ones at Byrea, Georgetown and Langley Park.

Inspection work will be required to determine the structural integrity on other bridges, including those at Caratal, Mount Young and Colonaire, Gonsalves added.

Several feeder roads have also been severely damaged, including one at Congo Valley which is presenting challenges for farmers to access their lands.

“This is one of the more productive areas,” Gonsalves contended.

There were also reports of damage to roads in Dickson and Valley, South Rivers, Park Hill, Lauders and Greggs, he stated.

Access to the prime minister’s private residence in Gorse was also cut off, as that estate road has been completely destroyed.

With regard to housing, Gonsalves said that up to Wednesday morning he was yet to get a full report on the extent of homes that have been destroyed.

He, however, noted that on Tuesday, it had been reported to him that 64 persons had registered to be placed in emergency shelters.

This number has subsequently been reduced to 36, the prime minister said.

The immediate task at hand, according to Gonsalves, was to return the affected areas to normalcy as quickly as possible.

A number of bypass roads have been established, as a result of the extent of the damage the bridges at Byera and Langley Park.