Special Report from Grenada: ‘Indescribable Ivan’
by Marcia Braveboy
Caribbean Net News correspondent reporting from Grenada
Saturday, September 11, 2004
ST GEORGE‘S, Grenada: Two things strike the
senses in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan’s devastating pass over Grenada.
First, the green lushness of the island has now been replaced by a dry, brown
and barren appearance. Second, the stench of death in the air, whether from
the carcasses of livestock or human corpses, no one can tell for sure at this
point. The entire island is highly distressed
and, with 90 percent of all buildings either damaged or destroyed, the
population is disoriented. Grenada’s famed nutmeg industry, which takes 20
years to establish, has been obliterated. Of
the 24,000 homes on the island, some 95 percent are reported to have been
destroyed. Although, pictures may show buildings to be still standing, none
have roofs any longer and the interiors have been stripped by the weather or
looters, or both. It has been said that there
are two things left in Grenada: the people and the rivers. And the people have
to use the rivers for sanitation. According
to reports from local funeral homes, the death toll currently stands at around
35, but this may rise to 40 or more once everyone is accounted for.
The security situation has broken down, with looting out of control. It seems
that only time will bring a stop to the looting – when there is nothing left
to steal. Some of the looting amounts to no more than sheer vandalism on the
part of those seeking to settle old scores.
Security forces, both domestic and those sent in from neighboring island
states, have been reduced to directing traffic, seemingly powerless in the
face of determined looters who challenge the military to shoot them if they
dare. There have been reports of security forces shooting into the air in a
vain attempt to control crowds, and then having to resort to tear gas.
A 6 pm to 6 am curfew is in force, but there have been difficulties in
communicating this fact to the general population, due to the absence of
public media. There has been a report of one individual being shot in the leg
by security forces when he attempted to run away after being challenged during
the curfew. The absence of public media may
also be a contributing factor to widespread local complaints of a lack of
effective leadership from the Grenadian authorities.
There is no proper coordination of relief supplies, much of which are stolen
directly from the boats bringing them in, with security forces again unable to
exert any form of meaningful control over the situation.
The prison has been destroyed and all inmates are on the loose, with the
exception of some who have surrendered to the police for their own protection
and safety. The situation in Grenada is
desperate, with not only relief supplies needed urgently but, just as
importantly, skilled relief workers to coordinate distribution, backed by an
effective security force. Further reports
from Grenada will be published as and when the telecommunications situation
there allows.
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