Opposition Leader Godwin Friday has expressed confidence that Vincentians will take seriously the 2025 Hurricane season, which began on June 1 and ends on Nov. 30.
The hurricane season has officially started and we know from the experience last year that this is something we cannot take lightly,” he said on his weekly programme on NICE Radio.
He said he had recently visited the Southern Grenadines, which was devastated by Hurricane Beryl on July 1.
“… there’s an anxiety that comes now that they know the hurricane season has started,” Friday said.
“It’s just a natural thing. When you think intellectually that you’re not thinking about it, hurricane season starts and suddenly you react in a certain way because of the experience”.
The opposition leader urged everyone in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to prepare.
“… but, certainly for those persons in areas that were devastated who have still not rebuilt, that they have to take the necessary precautions,” Friday said.
“Do the preparations around your house, move loose stuff … all the things we normally do for hurricane season, to clear debris from around your place, to make sure that you have a safe room at least, that you can secure properly if you have a normal hurricane.”
He, however, said that if a category 3, 4, or 5 hurricane is approaching, “you have to really make sure that you get to the proper location to protect yourself.
“It’s a worry and we have to encourage people to do what they can to be safe, and to urge the government, yes, to make statements, to reassure people, because there is more than just the actual physical preparation.”
The opposition leader said people were concerned that their homes were still without windows.
“All of those things now come to your mind. You’re thinking that we have dropped the ball; we missed out,” Friday said.
“The government has dragged their foot in trying to help people to get their places up and ready and secured, and that is inexcusable. And had it not been for the private developer, then things would have been worse.”
He said that with the hurricane season having started, “we can all pray and hope that we are not hit by a hurricane.
“But at the same time, we do that and we do all the preparations that we can to secure ourselves, our properties and to make plans to say, ‘If this were ever to that there’s an impending storm this is my course of action, I’ve learned from the experience and this is how I’m going to keep myself and my family safe.”
The people simply hasn’t gotten over the trauma of living through a hurricane; and then waiting a whole year for ULP government to do something to help affected people. All the ULP is talking about is how the imported help was necessary cause Vincentians are undereducated and ill equipped to do the job and earn the money. We don’t hate Cubans but our PM is not working for the interest of Vincentians workers.