Amid challenges from exogenous shocks and the ravages of natural disasters in recnt years, the overnment has been able to come to the assistance of thousands of affected people but needs and wants are mounting and so the demands of those hit by misfortune are rising.
Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves highlighted the issue in his address at the 46th anniversary of independence last Monday.
“We have been buffeted and battered by the illness of the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021. The volcanic eruptions in April 2021. Hurricane Elsa in July 2021.
“The knock-on economic effects of the exacerbated global turmoil consequent upon the start of the Ukraine-Russia war in February 2022, Hurricane Beryl in 2024, and the elevated price increases of recent months arising from the external convulsions in the global economy, from all of these, relief has been effective. Recovery and reconstruction have substantially occurred and are still continuing apace. Yet, some proverbial wounds and scarring remain to be healed,” Gonsalves said.
Gonsalves noted that many needs and wants are still to be fulfilled, and there still exists, inevitably, some dissatisfactions amidst abundant satisfactions.
Gonsalves said the demands for assistance by the people who have suffered to a greater or lesser extent from the slings and arrows of misfortune continue to rise. He said, accordingly, although over 5,000 houses have been repaired or rebuilt by the government in the 16 months since Hurricane Beryl – a highly commendable achievement – there are another 2,000 or so that are left to be satisfactorily addressed.
“Similarly, even as my government has provided in excess of $2.5 million in fridges, stoves and washing machines to affected persons, there is still a waiting list of over 2,500 persons to be helped in this regard. “Every affected person or family in this country knows that so long as I am Prime Minister, all these and other reasonable demands will be met. My government does what no other government in the world does or has done in these respects. When there is a natural disaster, we come to the people’s aid fully, extraordinarily, in rebuilding and repairing affected houses, doing all that for free, rolling out the delivery of appliances and providing a social safety net for the households,’ he said.
Gonsalves said his government has been taking guidance and inspiration from the 25th chapter of the book of Matthew on those matters which include matters of housing, food, safety, and comfort.
