Castries, Monday, September 13, 2004 - The Cabinet of Ministers has today September 13th, 2004, authorized a donation of US $100,000 in assistance from the Government and People of St. Lucia for disaster-struck Grenada.
Prime Minister Dr Kenny D. Anthony says the money, which was approved at today's Cabinet Meeting, will be used "to purchase building materials and other supplies to assist the people of Grenada in their efforts to rebuild and rehabilitate their homes."
"Most of the supplies," the Prime Minister said, "will be purchased here for onward transmission to Grenada." Prime Minister Anthony visited Grenada Sunday (September 12) along with his Vincentian counterpart Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.
While there, the two Prime Ministers met their Grenadian counterpart, Dr Keith Mitchell, with whom they held discussions. The leaders also made an aerial assessment of the damage done to the island by Hurricane Ivan. Prime Minister Anthony said on his return here that "the situation in Grenada is quite distressing".
He said the Grenadian people were "traumatized and devastated, but they also appear to be resilient and determined to try to put the pieces back together." Dr Anthony said he was "shocked" at the extent of the destruction caused by the Hurricane. From the air, he said, "galvanize and lumber could be seen strewn across the island for miles."
Prime Minister Anthony said the security situation on the island had improved "and things appear to be back to normal following widespread reports of looting." However," he added, "it will be a monumental task to rebuild Grenada."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skeritt of Dominica also paid a visit to Grenada over the weekend.
The visit by the Dominica Prime Minister followed earlier visits last week by the Secretary General of Caricom, the Director General of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).