The Christmas Eve extreme weather event, which has left nine dead, four missing and extensive flooding of homes, has created two St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves says.
“It is a difficult time, and people are suffering. So we have two St. Vincent and the Grenadines: one which is normal, and the other one which is anguished and pained,” he said Monday.
He was speaking at a ceremony for the handing over the terminal building at the Argyle International Airport to the International Airport Development Company.
“Across this country, people have lost their beds, their furnishings, their cooking utensils, their stoves, their fridges; laptops given by the state are destroyed; books, clothing, shoes, everything is lost; every single things,” he said.
Gonsalves said that the 24/12/13 disaster, which has also damaged public infrastructure extensively, is the worst in living memory.
He said that persons entering the country at the seaport in Kingstown or Campden Park or the E.T. Joshua Airport will not know the extent of the damage.
“People are suffering, no question about it,” he said adding, “Families which have been vulnerable, within 24 hours have descended not just into poverty, but indigence. Families which have been poor, have became indigent; and those who are indigent are waiting for our help.”
He said the first task is to take care of people’s immediate needs.
He said that by yesterday, Wednesday, 85 per cent of the country would have water.
“But large number of persons who got up this morning had no water to drink or to bathe in,” he said.
Gonsalves said that persons without water have as a “serious challenge” normal bodily function, in terms of waste disposal, which were taken for granted.
“So I want us all to remember that as we go about our work,” Gonsalves said.
He said that over 300 persons are homeless, with about 240 living in emergency shelters.
“But the numbers of the persons who are living in accommodation, which accommodation is wholly unsatisfactory are several times that number,” he said, adding that some persons do not want to go to emergency shelters.
Gonsalves said that there are persons who have not lost their home either partially or wholly, but their homes have been ravaged by water.
“In areas of the countryside, the mud has been cleaned and some people are sleeping on cardboard,” Gonsalves said.
He, however, said that the “remarkable thing” is that Vincentians have responded with “such resilience and stoicism”.
“The sharing which is taking place is extensive and commendable. I see in this disaster the seeds of a new St. Vincent and the Grenadines — different and better, and we must keep our focus.
My own opinion
The division of the people into two camps was created by the Unity Labour Party long before this tragic event. What has happened since the event is that the ULP have chosen to magnify that very atitude of them and us.
They are trying hard to turn the tragical even at Buccament and beyond as a political score card, awarding the ULP party all the points and making sure that the opposition are seen in as bad a light as can be weaved.
There are dozens of properties in Georgetown still unrepaired and uninhabitable since the last floods. But none of them are ULP members.
So lets wait and see if any NDP member will be helped by local or foreign aid, or if it will only go to ULP members.
What surprises me is how blatent it all is.
Peter,
You hate the PM and the ULP for own selfish reasons. With that premise in mind, there is nothing that the current Government do, that will be positive for you. Everything that happens in SVG that is considered bad you blame the ULP and the PM….Shame on you!
If the Prime Minister said that the Christmas disaster has created two SVGs, then we have upgraded from a Machiavelli to Gonsalves.
From Machiavellian to Gonsalvesian
Just to be sure: Machiavellian means; relating to, or characteristic of Machiavelli, or of his principles or alleged principles; practising, or characterized by, (esp. political) expediency; unscrupulous, duplicitous; astute, cunning, scheming. Oxford.
Or: A follower of Machiavelli; a person who adopts the principles recommended, or supposed to have been recommended, by Machiavelli in his treatise on statecraft; a person who practises expediency in preference to morality; an intriguer or schemer. Usu. derogatory. Oxford (again).
Junior, your being a bit unfair, only 90% is there fault, the other 10% is because of people like you.
As for hating, I can honestly say I hate no man or women, I certainly dislike some of their policies and general bad behaviour. But I suppose by your book, rape rallies and indecent words and gestures is OK, you consider this a great way of teaching our youth right from wrong.