Cayman Islands donate to hurricane relief in Grenada and SVG

ST VINCENT and the Grenadines (SVG) and Grenada, on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, each received US$500,000 and supplies from the Cayman Islands.

Premier of the Cayman Islands, Julianna O’Connor said that despite their own challenges, they looked at their budget and decided they had to help the two countries in the wake of damage caused by Hurricane Beryl which struck on July 1, 2024..

The handing over was done at the Argyle International Airport (AIA).

“We have a number of your people on our island that we have adopted, and it has been reciprocal, and so we decided that we had to come and show that we may have got divided in that transatlantic voyage to different islands but the commonality that binds our heart together is that formality…,” O’Connor told a gathering on the airport’s tarmac during the handing over of the supplies and cheque.

The premier said they are grateful that Hurricane Beryl did not strike them.

“It just flirted with us, we did not have any consummation whatsoever neither did we so desire, we are just happy that it left us in a position where we were able to hop across with our little bird to the Eastern Caribbean,”she said on Tuesday.

Responding, Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell told the gathering that he is grateful for the solidarity shown by the Cayman Islands. He journeyed to SVG after earlier welcoming the Cayman delegation to Grenada.

He said the cheque could have been sent, but the fact that Premier O’Connor flew with a delegation to Grenada and SVG is testimony to a commitment and sense of fraternity with these islands.

“I know you do so because you come from a place as having shared that experience yourself and so you understand what prayers, what support means in a difficult time like this,” said Mitchell, who is also the Chairman of CARICOM.

Mitchell added that the contribution will go a long way in helping the islands recover.

Commenting after receiving the money and supplies, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said the greatest act of solidarity and generosity is not to give from the abundance you possess, but from the little you may have.

“I know that you have your challenges, I know that you have your difficulties as a Small Island Developing State. In fact, all of us have to say the same prayer….”

He said climate change is causing severe hurricanes and we are in a world where there is no climate justice, as the global economy is focussing on dollars and not people.

“…but they will find that it is our turn today, and if we don’t get to net zero, the latest by 2050, that this world as we know it today, it would be inhospitable for our children and grandchildren,” Gonsalves added.

He said that while SVG and Grenada were recently impacted, it can be any country so unity and solidarity are important.

After the presentation of the donation, prime ministers Gonsalves and Mitchell toured Union Island and Canouan with other colleague prime ministers from the OECS.