by Linda Straker
- St Patrick and Carriacou and Petite Martinique declared disaster zones until 30 September
- Carriacou and Petite Martinique not under State of Emergency from Tuesday, 9 July
- Government yet to announce estimated cost of damages
As of Tuesday, 9 July 2024, the Grenadine islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique will no longer be under a State of Emergency. Government has repealed the regulation that went into effect in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.
The 2 Grenadine islands which fall under the governance structure of Grenada, were placed under a State of Emergency last week Wednesday. As a result, a daily curfew was imposed in the territory from 7 pm to 6:59 am.
An extraordinary gazette published on 8 July 2024 entitled Emergency Powers (Hurricane Beryl) (No 2) (Repeal) said that the regulation will be repealed as of 9 July. “These Regulations shall come into force on the 9th day of July, 2024. The Emergency Powers (Hurricane Beryl) (No. 2) Regulations, 2024, SRO No. 20 of 2024 is hereby repealed,” said the publication, which is signed by Carvel Lett, Secretary to the Cabinet.
With the State of Emergency no longer applicable, there is freedom of movement to the islands, which is among 3 areas in the north of Grenada hardest hit when Hurricane Beryl, a category 4 hurricane, passed over on 1 July.
As required by the Disaster Management Act, the Government has since declared the parishes of St Patrick, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique disaster zones for 3 months, from 1 July to 30 September 2024, according to a notice in the 5 July edition of the Government Gazette. “This Notice shall be deemed to have commenced at 11:00 a.m. on the 1st day of July 2024 and shall expire at 11:59 p.m. on the 30th day of September 2024.” The notice explained that Hurricane Beryl with maximum sustained winds of approximately 120mph caused widespread damage and destruction to property, physical infrastructure, the environment and crops and loss of human life.
Government is yet to announce the estimated cost of damages and how that will affect the fiscal situation. However, Finance Minister Dennis Cornwall has written to multilateral partners requesting that the debt suspension laws in loan agreements be triggered.
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