Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves is today conducting an extensive tour of the areas affected by this week’s flooding, caused by the passing of a trough system.
The Prime Minister returned to the state last evening and addressed the nation on radio, to discuss developments in relation to the recovery exercise.
During his presentation, the Prime Minister said the Ministry of Transport and Works and the Ministry of Health have advised that activity in Kingstown be kept to a minimum today, to facilitate a massive clean-up exercise.
Dr. Gonsalves said today has not been declared a Public Holiday, but the clean-up exercise will involve mainly state agencies and the private sector. He said the clean-up exercise will go into the weekend.
The Prime Minister said the damage and loss inflicted by the weather system is likely to run into hundreds of millions of dollars. He said over the next few days, officials will get a clearer picture as to the full extent of the damage.
Dr. Gonsalves also indicated that a meeting of contractors has been convened for tomorrow.
The Prime Minister will first tour the areas on the Leeward side of the Island which were affected by weather system. He will also visit areas on the windward side of the Island.
The tour was scheduled to begin at seven this morning.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been declared a level two disaster zone, following the heavy rainfall caused by the trough system this week.
A Level Two Disaster means that the Government is managing locally with the restoration process, but it would require external assistance.
