St. Vincent and the Grenadines assesses flood damage

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security St. Clair Leacock stated that the full extent of damage caused by recent heavy rains and a tropical wave in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is still being assessed. While immediate damage to homes and infrastructure is visible in areas such as Buccament, officials are awaiting detailed reports from the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) and technical experts to establish a final cost of the damage.

Leacock reported that the government’s emergency response apparatus operated effectively, noting successful inter-agency coordination between the Ministry of National Security, the police force, and NEMO. He commended the Special Services Unit for assisting at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital and noted that the Central Water and Sewerage Authority worked to restore water services to prevent prolonged shutdowns.

Despite the effective response, Leacock called for a shift in national ‘disaster culture.’ He urged policymakers and citizens to move toward proactive management, specifically highlighting the need to enforce building codes and address vulnerabilities such as squatting along riverbanks in flood-prone areas to mitigate the impact of future weather events.