SVG recognized for leadership in hurricane relief efforts

St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has been recognized for its efforts to help those coping with effects of powerful hurricanes Maria and Irma, as part of an address given at a forum on financing Renewable Energy projects.

On Wednesday, Stephen O’Malley, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) of Barbados and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, in his address on financing renewable energy projects in the Caribbean, began by acknowledging the destruction caused by the hurricanes and the terrible loss of life.

Hurricane Irma became a Category Five hurricane, with wind speeds of 185 mph and devastated the islands of the British Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, with many others affected on September 5 and 6. The Caribbean, still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Irma, was battered by Hurricane Maria, which also became an extremely dangerous Category Five hurricane at 9:35 p.m., just before the eye of the hurricane passed directly over Dominica on September 18.

In his address at the National Insurance Services conference room, O’Malley praised the the “strong leadership “ shown by CARICOM and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States in coming to the assistance of the islands affected by the hurricanes.

The UNDP representative particularly recognized the efforts of Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, saying: “Thank you for your leadership, thank you for all the things you’ve been doing, also, behind the scenes to make different things happen in support of the other affected islands.”(KR)