Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: One year ago, the island paradise of Grenada was ripped apart by Hurricane Ivan and the world responded generously. But despite the assistance, in some areas, housing remains in ruins and some families are still devastated.
Oceans away from last December’s tsunami, the tiny Caribbean island of Grenada is living proof of how difficult it can sometimes be to translate an outpouring of international assistance into recovery and reconstruction.
A resident from River Road in St. George’s Ms. Earlyn De Bellotte, said she will never forget the category 3 system; with sustained winds of 115 mph, leaving nothing more than a trail of destruction in Grenada and her home.
Ms. De Bellotte says while Ivan may have changed the way of living in Grenada, she will continue to focus on spirituality as a means of dealing with the trauma.
Earlyn De Bellotte told Caribbean Net News that she spends days without having a good meal, but she said she only ask God for her heart’s desire.
For many Grenadians hurricane Ivan left a permanent scar that will always bring back life-changing memories.
Ivan’s impact on Grenada’s economy
Before the passage of Hurricane Ivan, the country’s economy was growing at a rate of 5.7%, one of the second largest growth rates in the OECS.
The inflation rate was 2% and on the financial side, the country was generating a recurrent surplus of about 5% of the Gross Domestic Product. The unemployment rate was about 12% and both tourism and agriculture were sustainable.
Then came Hurricane Ivan and significant changes occurred to the extent where every sector sustained tremendous losses.
Ivan left the housing stock in shambles with an expenditure of $1.4 billion; agriculture was just over $1 million and tourism $70 million.
Finance Minister Anthony Boatswain said that external shocks such as hurricane Ivan could indeed put vulnerable economies into a tail spin. The Finance Minister says after being battered by Ivan the Grenadian economy is recovery nicely.
The construction sector has taken the market by storm with so many houses and building to be repaired or rebuilt, and Minister Boatswain said with the after-effects of Ivan this trend will continue for the next two years, and tourism and agriculture will gradually pick up pace. The Finance Minister said there are positive signs in the future for Grenada.
Little by little and bit by bit, it is anticipated that good days are ahead for Grenada as the impact of Ivan on the country’s economy will soon be no more.
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