Following the devastation of Hurricane Beryl on regions og Grenada, and St Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago Dr Keith Rowley has announced that children from those hurricane-ravaged will be allowed to enter T&T. Photo: Internet Source

According to a statement issued on Facebook, T&T Prime Minister Dr Keith C. Rowley said a virtual CARICOM meeting was convened where they received an update on the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl and added that his Government was mobilising relief supplies to be urgently dispatched by marine crafts. Photo: Internet Source/File

Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) in his Virgin Islands Day message on July 1, 2024, had said the Virgin Islands should stand ready to assist the islands impacted. Photo: GIS

This he says will also allow them to seek refuge with their families.

The decision was made yesterday, July 2, 2024, following a pressing need to help and support the hundreds of individuals in the wake of devastation and deaths on the islands.

“Given the level of total devastation experienced on these islands, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, acknowledging the deep familial ties between these islands and Trinidad and Tobago, has offered to allow school-age children from the devastated zones to be allowed into Trinidad and Tobago if they have family here who may wish to house them during the school holiday period that is upon us at this time,” the PM said.

VI asked to stand ready to assist

Meanwhile, Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) reached out to Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) on whether the Virgin Islands (VI) would make a similar consideration as a regional neighbour and member of CARICOM; however, the Premier is yet to return responses to this publication.

Premier Wheatley in his Virgin Islands Day message on July 1, 2024, had said the Virgin Islands should stand ready to assist the islands impacted.

“We ask every resident and citizen to stand ready to assist if called upon, as we are all too familiar with the devasting impacts of these super storms,” Dr Wheatley stated.

According to a statement issued on Facebook, T&T Prime Minister Dr Rowley said a virtual CARICOM meeting was convened where they received an update on the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl and added that his Government was mobilising relief supplies to be urgently dispatched by marine crafts.

Guyana responds with aid to affected islands

Already, Guyana has dispatched the first shipment of relief aid to support its Caribbean counterparts affected by Hurricane Beryl, with President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali making the announcement via his Facebook page on Tuesday.

This comes as part of fulfilling a commitment made by the president, who also serves as the CARICOM Chairman, on Monday. With countries facing a mammoth task of rebuilding and recovery, Dr Irfaan Ali called on citizens across territories on Monday to mobilise the necessary relief items.

“I urge all citizens and the private sector of our region to coordinate closely with their respective governments and regional emergency response mechanisms in providing immediate support and relief to those affected by the hurricane. The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) is already working to mobilise and coordinate assistance and disaster relief even as the storm is still passing through the Windward Islands,” he said.

As part of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency’s (CDEMA) response to the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, teams have been dispatched to Grenada, and St Vincent and the Grenadines to establish telecommunications equipment. CDEMA has also facilitated the transportation of aid and vital supplies to the affected islands.