by Linda Straker
- Disaster zone declaration gazetted in Government Gazette 5 July edition
- St Patrick, Carriacou and Petite Martinique declared disaster zones for 3 months until 11:59 pm on 30 September
- Parliament approved recovery and rebuild efforts under EC$269 million supplementary budget
Carriacou, Petite Martinique and St Patrick will no longer be disaster zones as of 1 October, because Government will not extend the disaster zone declaration which was gazetted in the 5 July edition of the Government Gazette, 4 days after the nation was battered by Hurricane Beryl.
Section 55 of the 2023 Disaster Management Act which came into effect as of October 2023, gave the Minister for Disaster Management the authority to declare an area a disaster zone.”
When asked to confirm that the declaration would be extended, Neila Ettienne, Press Secretary responded via Whatsapp message,“It won’t be extended.” No reason was given.
Following the passage of Hurricane Beryl, the parishes of St Patrick and Carriacou and Petite Martinique were declared disaster zones for 3 months from 1 July to 30 September 2024.
The legislation states that the Prime Minister may declare a disaster for Grenada, or for a part of Grenada if he or she is satisfied —
(a) that there is a substantial hazard within Grenada
(b) that a disaster has happened, is happening or is likely to happen in Grenada; and
(c) that it is necessary for the Agency or a person authorised under this Act to exercise disaster management and disaster risk management powers under this Act, to prevent or minimise loss of human life, illness or injury to human, property loss or damage to the environment
Grenada was among several Caribbean countries that Hurricane Beryl, the second named storm for the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The worst affected areas were the northern part of the country which includes the parishes named in the notice. “This Notice shall be deemed to have commenced at 11:00 am on the 1st day of July 2024 and shall expire at 11:59 pm on the 30th day of September 2024,” said the notice which 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.
Section 56 of the legislation states that “On the declaration of a hazard alert or disaster, the Director, a member of the Royal Grenada Police Force or any person acting under the authority of the Director, may, in order to limit the extent of the disaster, totally or partially prohibit or restrict public access, with or without vehicles, to any road or pathway within Grenada affected or likely to be affected by the disaster.”
The Houses of Parliament have since approved millions to assist with the recovery and rebuild efforts under the EC$269 million supplementary budget.
