It could cost the government about EC$300 million to repair and rebuild houses damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Beryl, which affected more than 95% of buildings in the Southern Grenadines when it made landfall there on July 1.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves told iWitness News in Mayreau on Thursday that the figure was based on rough calculations, as the assessment was still incomplete.
He said there were 2,450 active electricity accounts in the Southern Grenadines made up of households and businesses.
“So, you can see easily you have over 2000 households,” he said, adding that the number does not include the households in the north of Canouan, a resort area that is home to some of the world’s richest people.
The prime minister said that if 1,000 have to be rebuilt from scratch in the Southern Grenadines at $200,000, that is $200 million.
“Then between St. Vincent and Bequia, you probably have another five or 600 [houses]. That’s over $100 million. So, housing alone, you’re looking at $300 million.”
“I’m talking back-of-the-envelope calculations. the assessment still hasn’t been done fully because we have started an inventory as to the houses. That’s commenced in Canouan where the infrastructure was set up a little earlier but that is going to happen here [in Mayreau] also and in Union,” Gonsalves told iWitness News.
He noted that businesses and government buildings, including the hospital, will also have to be reconstructed as part of bringing things back to normalcy and building confidence.
“Certainly, people working with help with that,” the prime minister said, adding that the Roads, Buildings & General Services Authority had awarded three contracts in Union Island and Mayreau.