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Minister of Finance, Hon. Camillo Gonsalves, has praised the resilience of the people of the Southern Grenadines.

Speaking at a remembrance ceremony in Canouan earlier this week, Minister Gonsalves said that one year later, the Government has spent over 20 million dollars in restoring electricity, 5 million in providing free shuttle service to and from the mainland, 12 million dollars in income support, millions in materials and the rebuilding of homes and schools. Yet, more work still remains to be done.

Minister Gonsalves noted that a tremendous amount of work has been done, and the Government is grateful for the help of benefactors like Ian Wace and the Gumbolimbo Group, as well as friendly Governments, in helping with the rebuilding and reconstruction efforts.

When Hurricane Beryl struck, over 3,000 people were displaced from the Southern Grenadines and 90 percent of all the buildings were damaged or destroyed.

“A year later, not only are we recovering, but we are thriving and doing better than ever in the Southern Grenadines,” the Finance Minister said.

“That is when the ingenuity of the people of Canouan came to the fore, and the creativity and resilience of those people. Everywhere there was a challenge, somebody saw an opportunity. Everywhere there was destruction, somebody saw an opportunity to rebuild. Everywhere there was hopelessness, somebody saw hope. Everyone worked together to imagine a resilient Canouan and to work together to achieve it,” Minister Gonsalves said.

Even as reconstruction efforts continue, Minister Gonsalves noted that the impact of Hurricane Beryl can still be felt, with 1,557 people still receiving monthly income support and approximately 700 persons from the Southern Grenadines are currently in rented apartments.

SOURCE: The Agency for Public Information (API)