Key messages:

  • We are working through the official channels in coordination with partners

  • The need for outside assistance is concentrated in a few communities

  • Some relief items have already been dispatched

  • Priority must be on immediate needs and getting items to impacted people

  • Avoid sending items that are not needed now (they may be needed later)

  • There is a need for additional transport

  • Financial contributions are often more effective than goods

The Energy Chamber has been working closely with our partners in the Joint Chambers in Trinidad & Tobago, the ODPM and the Government of T&T in our response to the disaster caused by Hurricane Beryl.  We are also coordinating with our partner Chambers in St Vincent and Grenada through CARICHAM.

We are part of the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) team who coordinates closely with CDEMA, to ensure that the private sector response supports national efforts.  We are careful to work through the official channels to ensure that relief items and other assistance gets to the intended beneficiaries. 

The objective must always be on getting assistance to people in need and it is important to have the right logistics in place to ensure that relief gets to people.  There is always a danger in post disaster efforts that items are collected but these are not what is required in the immediate term in the impacted communities.  The full chain for delivery of goods and services needs to be in place.

 The needs for outside assistance are concentrated on the islands of:

  • Canouan, Mayreau and Union Islands in St Vincent and the Grenadines

  • Carriacou and Petite Martinique in Grenada

 Note that the main islands are in the process of getting back into full operation and repairing damage, but many goods are available, and services are back-up and running.

There have been large volumes of relief items being sourced in Trinidad & Tobago by the private sector, especially by TTMA members, with a lot of support from other private companies to help with delivery and logistics.   There were two vessels that left Trinidad on Tuesday night with some of the items and another larger vessel leaving today, Wednesday, with more items.    There is a need for additional assistance and relief items from Trinidad as outlined in the list below – this is taken from the official lists shared by CDEMA yesterday.

The table below gives the priority lists:

 

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Major impacted communities:

  • Union Island,

  • Canouan

  • Mayreau

Needs list:

Dignity kits

Cots

Tents

Tarpaulins

Bedding kits

Hygiene kits

Collapsible water containers

Chain saws

Flood lights

Lanterns

Generators

Solar lanterns

Food & water – preference is for purchase in St Vincent

Grenada

Major impacted communities:

  • Carriacou

  • Petite Martinique

Needs list:

Dignity kits

Cots

Tents

Tarpaulins

Blankets

Bedding kits

Hygiene kits

Collapsible water containers

Chain saws

Flood lights

Lanterns

Generators

Solar lanterns

Reflective/hi-viz vests

Food & water – preference is for purchase in Grenada  

Note that the preference expressed by CDEMA is for food and water to be purchased where possible in the islands of Grenada and St Vincent.  Distribution centres and stores are open and available in both islands.  The Energy Chamber can help make connections with people who can purchase items in those islands.  Or people can donate to the Joint Chambers relief account (Click here)

Note that best practice in humanitarian response is to purchase items as close as possible to the impacted communities: this keeps the local private sector operating even during a crisis.

The Joint Chambers are in the process of procuring items in St Vincent and Grenada to support the relief efforts.

We do have the need for additional ship transport from Trinidad to either Grenada or St Vincent as staging posts or preferably directly to the badly impacted islands.   Any members who can help provide transport are asked to get in touch with us (email michelle@energy.tt) .

This is an evolving situation and the situation on the ground in the most impacted islands is still unclear, so needs may change as further information becomes available.

Photo: Studying Hurricane Beryl from Space.
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/studying-hurricane-beryl-from-space/