(Trinidad Express) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was yesterday praised by St Lucian Prime Minister Dr Stephenson King for her quick response to rally to his countrymen’s assistance in the wake of the passage of Hurricane Tomas.
King made the comment following a meeting with Persad-Bissessar at his official residence in Castries, after she kept her word by travelling to the island to get a first-hand look at the devastation caused by Tomas. He said the country was grateful for whatever assistance Persad-Bissessar’s Government could offer.
Speaking to King at a press conference after the meeting, Persad-Bissessar said, “I want to make it very clear, Mr Prime Minister, that we remain committed to assisting you here and the people of St Lucia. There are no strings attached to the humanitarian aid that we bring and will continue to send to you for reconstruction.”
The PM’s comment seemed directed at those who had expressed anger at her previous comment, among them the St Lucian business community, that in extending a helping hand to Caricom countries affected by Tomas, Trinidad and Tobago should benefit. Many of the St Lucians the Express approached yesterday, however, were thankful for Persad-Bissessar’s intervention.
During the meeting, King said the country would need approximately US$500 million (TT$3 billion) to get up and running again. He said one of their immediate concerns was a supply of fresh water, but noted the United States already has a contingent of engineering specialist troops on the island working around the clock to get water flowing again.
Persad-Bissessar said there was no way her Government could afford as much as the $3 billion needed, but promised to assist as much as she could.
The Prime Minister was accompanied on the trip by Minister of Trade Stephen Cadiz, Public Utilities Minister Emmanuel George, Housing and Environment Minister Roodal Moonilal, Local Government Minister Chandresh Sharma, Housing Development Corporation chairman Jearlean John, Contractors Association president Mikey Joseph and construction magnate Emile Elias, who were told of the country’s need for housing. Over 100 houses were destroyed on the south-eastern part of the island alone and there is a need to rebuild over 200 homes immediately.
After the meeting, Persad-Bissessar was taken on a tour of several areas affected by Tomas, including Bexon. She distributed hampers to residents in some of those areas. Following the tour, Persad-Bissessar assured she would do all she could to help. She noted that two T&T Coast Guard vessels with relief supplies were scheduled to arrive in St Lucia last evening and two containers with similar supplies were heading to St Vincent and the Grenadines, which was also hit by Tomas.
During the tour, Sharma said, “As part of the Caricom family we are willing to lend support to St Lucia and we have witnessed quite a large amount of destruction, including destruction to the banana industry which generates a lot of income for the country.”
He said “Whatever support Trinidad and Tobago can lend we will be happy to, including assistance from the engineering battalion from the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force.”
Cadiz said he was told the water problem was due to the fact that the country’s main dam, which pumps roughly eight million gallons a day, was inoperative.
“St Lucia needs to be fixed. Tourism will be adversely affected without water, especially in the northern part of the island where tourism is heaviest.”
He said the sum of US$500 million needed for reconstruction was a considerable amount and believed no Caribbean countries would be in a position to foot such a bill, since many of them are also under economic stress. He said St Lucia would therefore also have to seek international aid.
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