Activist calls for National Clean-up Day to help communities affected by Beryl

By Admin. Updated 8:28 p.m., Thursday, July 11, 2024, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Former Minister of Health and current head of the Grace Eustace Foundation based in Mayreau – Mr. Luke Browne has called for a day to be set aside for the voluntary national clean-up of Beryl-affected communities across the country.

Hurricane Beryl struck the multi-island State of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) on July 1, leaving a trail of destruction on mainland St. Vincent and the Nothern Grenadines while almost annihilating the islands in the Southern Grenadines and Grenada’s Carriacou and Petit Martinique.

In an interview with One News SVG on July 9, on hurricane-battered Mayreau island in the Southern Grenadines, Mr. Browne said:

“I think it would be a great idea if we were able to mobilise some clean-up teams and have a National Clean-up Day. Come to Mayreau, come to Union Island, come to Canouan, and show solidarity with these persons”.

Mr. Browne, through personal funding and resources from like-minded individuals took a team of labourers and builders to Mayreau to begin a voluntary clean-up exercise.

He also transported two trucks to the island to bolster the clean-up efforts of the local community.

Mr. Browne said: “There are many roadways that could benefit from the clean-up campaign. There are many beach sides that could benefit from the clean-up campaign. There are many houses which have been destroyed that could benefit from the clean-up campaign. Let us give what we have including our manpower”.

“Mayreau is in a condition where it really needs all Vincentians to rally to the cause of rebuilding it and also rebuilding the other Grenadines islands, Ans to the extent to which it has been damaged, St. Vincent proper,” he said.

Mr. Browne’s team is in the process of restoring the roof of the Grace Eustace Mission House in Mayreau which he said will serve as a hub where locals can access cold storage and other services on the island that require electricity.

The island is expected to be without electricity for about six months.

Mayreau has a population of about 350 people and it is known for its world-famous Salt Whistle Bay Beach which is a renowned yachting paradise and a dreamy tropical paradise for beach lovers.

“I’m calling in all Vincentians to do what you can to help Mayreau,” Mr. Browne said.

Meanwhile, US-based Mayreau native and member of the We Are Mayreau Inc. Casanella Cyrus told One News SVG on July 9, that the island housing on the island has been gravely affected by Hurricane Beryl.

She said based on an assessment done,

“We know for a fact that we have 89 structures on the island, 89 wall homes, and out of those, 69 are still standing, but they are all compromised. Either all of them have lost their roofs entirely or they are all compromised in some way. Either the rafters are gone or they have holes. Even though they are standing, they are all compromised.

We had 32 wooden structures. All those 32 wooden structures have been decimated.

Cyrus who has been busy assisting the island with logistics as aid has begun to arrive, said the plan is to use data they have collected to serve households rather than individuals.

She expressed thanks to Martinique whom she says met the island’s initial aid needs in the immediate post-Beryl impact period. She said people from Martinque brought food, water, clothing, and other supplies. She also thanked the National Emergency Management Organisation – NEMO.

She said: “Our need now is supplies in terms of galvanize, and board and screws and things like that.