Caribbean neighbours send troops to Grenada
Thursday, September 9, 2004
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua: Prime Minister of
Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer, on Wednesday afternoon dispatched two
groups of defence force and police officers to Grenada to aid in the emergency
response phase of the recovery process following the passage of Hurricane Ivan
which caused widespread damage to the island.
In addressing the 17 military officers comprising engineers and security
personnel and two officers to assist with the management of resources in and
out of Grenada; Prime Minister Spencer commended them for readily volunteering
their services to assist a fellow CARICOM member in time of need. He said that
their efforts demonstrate the uniqueness of Caribbean people to rise to the
occasion to assist others in times of adversity.
The Antigua/Barbuda military contingent will assist with the collection and
distribution of relief supplies and coordinate external military support in
conjunction with the Regional Security System RSS.
The 11 police officers, which form part of the Antigua and Barbuda contingent,
will join the RSS contingent responsible for security matters on the island of
Grenada.
The Military and Police Contingent were
transported to the RSS base in Barbados by LIAT. Caribbean Star Airlines also
offered assistance in dispatching military personnel to Barbados then on to
Grenada. Prime Minister Spencer said that he
has made several attempts to contact Prime Minister Keith Mitchell whose
official home was destroyed, but was unsuccessful. He has however been in
contact with the National Security Advisor in Grenada and the leader of the
Opposition there to get an official assessment of the situation.
Meanwhile, St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas announced in
Parliament Tuesday afternoon, he was sending 15 members of the St. Kitts-Nevis
Defence Force to help Grenada recovery after the onslaught by Hurricane Ivan.
“I have consulted with our local National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
and I am making available the services of our National coordinator, Mr Carl
Herbert, who has had some years of experience in disaster preparedness and
management, to provide immediate assistance to Grenada. I have also been
reliably informed that the Radio Amateur Society is willing to make one of its
ham-radio operators available should such a service be necessary,” Prime
Minister Douglas, who is also Minister of National Security, told Parliament.
Dr. Douglas told lawmakers and the nation that the Caribbean Disaster Relief
Unit (CDRU) has also been activated. “Fifteen
(15) of our troops from the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force will be going
under the auspices of the Regional Security System (RSS) to help our brothers
and sisters in Grenada in this time of greatest need,” said Prime Minister
Douglas. Dr. Douglas told Parliament that the
Grenada capital, St George’s, suffered incalculable damage and the Emergency
Operation Centre (EOC), which is the agency responsible for managing disaster
in that country, was destroyed along with the official residence of “my
colleague Prime Minister and friend, Dr. Keith Mitchell.”
“I have tried to reach Prime Minster Mitchell and St. Vincent and the
Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, but without success. I have
also tried to reach Mr. Lennie Lake, the National Coach for our National
Football team (our Sugar Boyz), which is in St. Vincent without success. I
have been reliably informed however, that they are all safe and in good
spirits,” said Dr. Douglas, who later accepted a telephone call from National
Football Coach Lennie Lake as he returned to his office at the end of the
Parliamentary session.
Back...
Most popular
articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed
Printable
version
| 
