Prime Minister, Dr. The Hon. Ralph Gonsalves has expressed his profound sympathy to the family of a teenager in Layou who lost his life in tragic circumstances on Wednesday September 28th.
Prime Minister Gonsalves was at the time speaking via telephone from Barbados on a Weather update programme by the National Emergency Operations Center on NBC Radio. The other panelists were Deputy Director, NEMO Michelle Forbes and Billy Jeffers, Meteorologist at the E. T Joshua Airport.
Prime Minister Gonsalves said that the government will ensure that the relief effort after the passage of Tropical Storm Matthew goes well. He noted that he was in touch with Prime Minister (AG), the Hon. Montgomery Daniel and other members of Cabinet, as well as Prime Minister Roosevelt Skeritt of the Commonwealth of Dominica.
Gonsalves noted, ‘governments and persons from around the world have already contacted him and are already offering support and solidarity.’ Prime Minister Gonslaves opined that he will return to St. Vincent Thursday once the all clear has been given and the Barbados and St. Vincent airports become operational and LIAT resumes flights.
Meanwhile…Deputy Director NEMO, Michelle Forbes continues to appeal for persons to remain vigilant as drains and rivers have over flown their banks dumping debris and other materials on the roads making some roads impassible. Forbes explained that once the all clear has been given, priority will be given to emergency services to respond to reports received by the NEC.
With confirmed reports of flooding in Vermont, South Rivers, sections of Kingstown, Campden Park, Arnos Vale including the E. T Joshua Airport, Langley Park and Buccament, Forbes has called for persons to remain indoors even after the all clear has been given as BRAGSA and other essential agencies will be conducting clean up operations.
The local Met Office forecasts cloudy to overcast with some light to moderate scattered showers, occasional gusty winds and isolated thunderstorm, Thursday.
Schools will remain closed for the rest of the week and businesses across St. Vincent and the Grenadines will remain closed today, Thursday September 29th.
The ET Joshua Airport remains closed. Another assessment will be done at 10:00 a.m. today.
