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P.M. Meets Grenadian Community in New York |
The Prime Minister updated the audience on the State of affairs in Grenada
following the passage of Hurricane Emily on Thursday July 14, which caused an
estimated damage totaling 200 million US dollars, with only preliminary
estimates done. The country was at the time recovering from Hurricane Ivan which
struck Grenada 10 months ago with an estimated 2.5 billion US dollars in
infrastructural damage. The passage of Hurricane Emily, has halted progress
since the reconstruction following Hurricane Ivan. The Prime Minister updated the audience on the State of affairs in Grenada
The Prime Minister said that Grenadians everywhere must unite to provide hope to
the country. The audience was updated on the state of various sectors of the
economy – Agriculture, Tourism, Health, Communications, Revenue Collection,
Social Welfare, among others. The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was given a
special mention and in particular Prime Minister Patrick Manning, for the
concern he showed and the tangible support demonstrated, during and after the
Hurricane. Prime Minister Mitchell also praised the National Disaster Management
Agency, the Security Forces and the emergency services for the structures they
put in place prior to and after the Hurricane, which minimized the extent of
injuries and death. The psychological effect the two Hurricanes have had on the
population was of particular concern to the Prime Minister. He said that
counselors were working with the schools and in other areas to assist persons
and to help them to cope with the situation and trauma of losing their homes and
their possessions as well as their livelihood. The Prime Minister also
expressed concern for the farmers who had again lost their crops and informed
the audience that the Government was committed to assisting the farmers in
getting back on their feet. The Prime Minister, whilst thanking them for their
generosity in the past, called for the support of the Grenadian Community in New
York and the International Community, as Grenadians tried, for a second time, to
rebuild their country and their lives. The Prime Minister continues his visit in
the United States today, in Washington, D.C.
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