The Priest who helped save 30 lives in Mayreau during Beryl

Victor Omenka (left) and a Hurricane Beryl-demolished church in Mayreau.

By Admin. Updated 7:27 p.m., Wednesday, July 10, 2024, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Victor Omenka, VC was supposed to be in Union Island when Hurricane Beryl hit on July 1, but instead, he ended up staying in Mayreau where villagers said he helped save many lives during the passage of the hurricane.

“On Sunday, June 30th, I was suppose to sail to Union for mass at 10 am after celebrating the mass at Mayreau at 8 am, but I was so disappointed when I did not get a ride to go,” Father Omenka told One News SVG today (July 10).

Fr Omenka, 33, a Nigerian who came for mission in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in August 2023 is the Parish Priest of Holy Family Parish, Southern Grenadines (Canouan, Mayrea, and Union) said he would frequently travel between the islands for Masses.

As fate would have it Omenka’s missed ride to mass in Union Island on the weekend of June 28 became the bridge of hope for life for many.

Omenka said during the storm, he saw that the roof of the Church in Mayreau had been displaced.

He then took a decision to take refuge in his quarters, a small room located in the inner part of the building.

While he was there, people who took refuge, including children, in the adjoining building which serves as a community centre and library were faced with a life-threatening situation as the roof began to be lifted up by the intense wind energy of Beryl.

Mayreau resident – Norbert Dember showing the door through which people in the collapsed shelter escaped into the priest’s room.

“We were still holding the door. When the plywood started moving away and the rafters started moving away from the beam, there was trouble,” one resident who witnessed the ordeal – Mr. Norbert Dember told One News SVG.

He said slabs of concrete started falling and the door he and another resident were holding to prevent the wind from beaching inside the building eventually gave way.

He said people started screaming and the priest came and started guiding people into the small room using the doorway to the adjoining building.

The priest – Father Omenka said he heard the screams of children and other people in the adjoining building.

A One News SVG photo of the room in which many were saved.

Luckily, there was a door through which people could enter the room in which Omenka was, and it was through that door he was able to help everyone escape to some safety.

Father is thanking God for saving the lives of everyone.

Another resident says she is thanking God that the priest was there.