CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) – Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony says the damage unleashed by a low level trough over the Christmas holidays has been extensive and severe, resulting in a further setback for the country.
“The road ahead will be difficult and hard especially in the face of the economic challenges facing our country,” Prime Minister Anthony told a news conference today. “But we have handled this disaster magnificently, largely on our own efforts with few resources. We have worked together, mourned together, and supported each other. It is that kind of spirit we must invoke to face the future.”
Anthony told reporters that many people had lost all of their belongings to the floodwaters that have also been blamed for the deaths of six people.
“We now know that some ten homes were completely destroyed by the raging floods. Several vehicles were damaged by flooding, some beyond repair,” Prime Minister Anthony said, adding that agriculture had suffered badly, with initial estimates, pointing to a 30 to 40 per cent damage to banana fields, 90 per cent to vegetables, and five per cent damage to tree crops.
Additionally, 90 per cent of all ponds suffered varying degrees of siltation, Anthony said, adding that his administration had set itself some priorities in the aftermath of the damage caused by the weather system.
He said, firstly, the government would provide care, support and assistance to those who were affected by the floodwaters. The airports have already been reopened to facilitate the movement of people one and off the island.
The public utility companies have been urged to get those services in operation as soon as possible and to have vehicular traffic on the road.
Anthony also assured children and their parents that school books would be replaced and grants be given to purchase lost school uniforms. He said this would be done to coincide with the reopening of schools.