Hurricane has brought people together- Union Island resident
UNION ISLAND RESIDENT and teacher, Abdon White has concluded that the destruction of the island by Hurricane Beryl has brought islanders closer as they strive to rebuild their homes.
Union island was devastated by the Category 4 hurricane which struck on July 1, 2024, damaging over 90% of homes on the island, leaving a trail of destruction never before seen in the multi-island state of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).
White, who was this week appointed by Cabinet to assist with the response and recovery effort on Union Island, and who is also working closely with the National Emergency Management Organization’s (NEMO, told SEARCHLIGHT on Tuesday during a visit that after the hurricane’s passage he saw persons who had not been speaking to each other for years mending their differences.
He said the hurricane resulted in so much destruction that people are disoriented, but he knows Union islanders are resilient and looking forward to rebuilding.
“What we have been focusing on in the last few weeks is getting the needs of the people met and working along with the different organizations,” White said, while noting that focus was placed on clearing the roads.
He added also that people on the island are complaining mostly about the lack of electricity and mattresses.
On Tuesday a high-level delegation headed by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, and including a number of prime ministers from the OECS, visited Union Island and Canouan.
During a press briefing at the Argyle International Airport (AIA) on Tuesday, July 1, 2024, Skerrit asked persons to be patient and to work together.
“It is not a quick fix. It’s not going to happen tomorrow. It will take time, and you can overcome challenges by being each others’ keepers and resist temptation for everything to be seen through a narrow partisan political lens,” Skerrit said.
He also cautioned that what persons say on social media and on talk shows can impact the ability of St Vincent and the Grenadines to raise the much needed funds to address the social and economic dislocation of so many families across this country.
“So let us be responsible citizens and recognize that we all have a role to play, and that our role ought not be a negative or a destructive one. It must be constructive engagement because if you go out there and you tell countries don’t give St Vincent and the Grenadines money…there might be some people who might end up listening to you, and what will happen to the affected persons on Union Island and Canouan?”
Skerrit said that in this circumstance, he considers himself a Vincentian.
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