Liaison Officer says all hurricane victims can have their needs addressed

Since category 4 Hurricane Beryl’s devastation of the Southern Grenadines on July 1, 2024, Liaison Officer, Abdon Whyte said work is progressing, and while things may be moving slowly, the reconstruction process is ongoing.

There are complaints however, that nothing is being done and are said to be claiming political victimization.

“I will say this is nonsense. We do not ask whether somebody votes for one party or the other,” Whyte said.

“Persons come in, and I think we are very, very professional in how we deal with people…once they come for help everybody gets help, everybody,” the Union Island resident said.

“ We have friends and we have families who may support one party or the other. So, in terms of any political bias that is total nonsense,” Whyte commented from his office on Union Island earlier this month.

Whyte is the liaison officer attached to the Ministry of Urban Development, Energy, Airports, Seaports, Grenadines Affairs and Local Government. He was appointed by Cabinet to assist with the response and recovery effort on Union Island, and is also working closely with the National Emergency Management Organization’s (NEMO) subcommittee.

Whyte pointed out that six months after Hurricane Beryl struck, the island is cleaned, schools are going as normal, people are getting meals free of cost six days a week, customers of the St Vincent Electricity Services (VINLEC) continue to be connected to the electrical grid on a daily basis, and roofs and other infrastructure are being dealt with.

“We now have internet and phone, wireless access in almost the entire island…

“There is free transportation to and from St. Vincent on the ferries. Also continuing is income support, so, six months later we are definitely in a much better place. I know there are number of persons who still don’t have roofs and we’re working hard to ensure that they get some sort of support as quickly as we possibly can,” Whyte stressed.

He said that persons must understand that there are challenges, and some are only seen when a process is ongoing and changes have to be made.

“We had different challenges in moving materials to and from St. Vincent…. Union Island is a remote island.

“There are number of things that we do not produce locally. Everything has to be bolted down now and those things, bolts, have to come from another place.

“People must ask themselves, how do people get help? What is the process involved?” Whyte questioned.

He said the assistance programme set up by the Government has several strands; there are persons who deal with housing matters, and those who will deal with other related matters.

Further, that persons can go into the office in Clifton to seek help and they will be guided accordingly.

“We will listen to you. Present your problem to us and we will see how best we can help…,” Whyte said, while noting that there are two categories of repairs. One where people are engaged in self-help, and the other where the Government is fixing the homes.

“If you need materials you come, you bring in your estimate, we will have an assessor go to your house, and once the materials become available then we will distribute it to you,” Whyte said.

There is also an initiative where NEMO is helping persons who may have lost their appliances.

“Some persons would receive appliances based on their readiness to receive those appliances. So, they’ve been given fridges and stoves…again persons would come in, register their names. We will send somebody to check to ensure that you’re ready to receive because we don’t want persons taking these appliances and putting them aside or hoarding them.”