Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, & Rural Transformation, Hon. Saboto Caesar, updated media workers at a press conference held at Cabinet Room earlier this week, on his recent trip to the British Virgin Islands (BVI), and Anguilla, to assess the damage caused by the passage of Hurricane Irma.

Minister Caesar was accompanied by the Minister of Economic Planning, Sustainable Development, Industry, Information & Labour, Hon. Camillo Gonsalves; Mr. Dickston Findlay from the Ministry of Education; Director of Grenadines Affairs, Mr. Herman Belmar; Mr. Francis from BRAGSA; and Miss Mauricia Richards from a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).

Minister Caesar said that he is happy Saint Vincent and the Grenadines assisted, and will continue to do so.  The Minister described the destruction in the BVI and Anguilla as overwhelming.  

Whilst in the BVI and Anguilla, the delegation visited Tortola, Virgin Gorda, The Valley; it also visited several shelters and went on tours.  They participated in a town hall meeting, which was held at the New Testament Church, BVI.  According to Minister Caesar, over 700 Vincentians came out to the town hall meeting.

He extended thanks to “the Government and People of the BVI for the hospitality that they extended even at this time; and to specially mention a man of God in the Diaspora by the name of Bishop Ishmael Charles, who opened his church, and is working with Minister Gonsalves and myself, basically as our to-go person for information”.

Minister Caesar said that a request for fruit trees and livestock has been made in the affected areas, and the Ministry of Agriculture would be happy to assist as soon as some order is restored. “Once we past the humanitarian recovery period - also for assistance with animals - this is something that the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is going to look into, and we’re going to continue to work with the contacts that we have to ensure that we work together to advance the recovery efforts,” he said.

 SOURCE: API