CARICOM’s response to Hurricane Beryl

[ad_1]

By Neville J. Bissember

It is commendable that as Chairman of CARICOM, H.E. President Irfaan Ali was able to call an emergency meeting of his colleague Heads of Government within hours to strategise the Community’s response in the wake of the destruction visited upon the Caribbean by Hurricane Beryl last week, specifically in Grenada and its outlying island of Carriacou, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and with less intensity, Barbados and Jamaica. Praise be to the Almighty for the minimal but nevertheless unfortunate loss of life; Beryl’s toll will be measured more in terms of loss in the infrastructure, housing and agricultural sectors. This however is small comfort, as it will nevertheless register as a not insignificant setback to life, development and the accumulation of GDP in those island nations.

To quote His Excellency, ‘[T]he extent of destruction here will definitely require international support, not only immediate financial support in the form of grants and long-term low-interest concessional loans but also help in terms of restructuring existing loans’ There was also agreement among regional leaders ‘to reach out to all stakeholders to commence discussions on international support’.

Yet, I can hear the skeptics saying this is “too little too late” and that the integration movement is once again in reactive mode, rather than having acted with foresight and pre-planning for such a disaster. Indeed the skeptics on this occasion may be on to something as it is an indisputable fact that some things in life are inevitably predictable – old age, Christmas, your partner’s birthday and yes, the annual hurricane season. Let me leave the fortunes of West Indies (test) cricket out of this!

[ad_1]

Source link : https://www.stabroeknews.com/2024/07/17/news/guyana/caricoms-response-to-hurricane-beryl/ Author : Publish date : 2024-07-17 02:02:56 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source .

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31

CARICOM’s response to Hurricane Beryl

Uruguay take third place at Copa America but Bielsa far from satisfied – Reuters

Lozano out as Mexico national team coach after quick Copa exit

Lozano out as Mexico national team coach after quick Copa exit

Embark on an Unforgettable Adventure Aboard the MSC World America!

June Sees a Decline in Cayman Travelers Heading to the US Amid Global Economic Challenges

Journey from California to Colombia: Unveiling a Happier, Safer Life!

Skyward Turmoil: How Avianca Flight Disruptions Are Shaking Up Travel in Costa Rica and Central America

New Visa Restrictions Target Cubans Participating in Labor Export Program

Dominican Republic Takes Bold Steps to Combat Drug Trafficking by Opening Restricted Areas to U.S

Major Drug Bust: US and Dominican Forces Join Forces to Uncover Massive Cocaine Haul!

Exciting News: Saint Kitts and Nevis, Haiti Join the CAF Family as New Shareholders!

U.S. Northern Command Wraps Up Exciting Arctic Edge 2025 Exercise!

ASU Pioneers the Path to Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals Nationwide

Categories

Archives