Caribbean Community rallying to aid Dominica

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states are marshalling their resources to help Dominica after the island was left "dazed" by the category five force of Hurricane Maria.

According to CARICOM Chairman Keith Mitchell, who is also Prime Minister of Grenada, the situation is a challenging one.

“It is clear that we have a tremendous challenge on our hands, in the Caribbean region as a whole,” he said.

Mitchell said he spoke to Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit late on Monday while the hurricane was taking hold.

Mitchell, speaking to journalists on Wednesday, pleaded with Grenadians to reach out to Dominicans.

“We in Grenada must recognise that we have a tremendous responsibility to help out our brothers and sisters in Dominica and all other affected countries. This is about us, the region.”

Mitchell recently returned from the Turks and Caicos and several islands in the Bahamas that were affected by Hurricane Irma last week.

In St Lucia, following a meeting of the cabinet of ministers, acting Prime Minister Lenard Montoute said plans were already underway to make St Lucia an operational base for the relief effort to Dominica.

“Right now our thoughts are with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and the people of Dominica. Preliminary information is that we have widespread devastation in Dominica,” he said.

“From our understanding they are facing a very critical situation and our prayers are with them, as our sister and neighbour. We have to respond and do what we can to assist our brothers and sisters in Dominica.”

Medical help offered

Montoute also said that communication has been made with the French and Venezuelan authorities in terms of assistance.

“St Lucia will be used as the base for relief efforts into Dominica because, as you can well appreciate, the airports are not operational. Neither are the sea ports.

"Reconnaissance flights will have to be made to ascertain the actual situation on the ground and for immediate preparation to be made for the landing of helicopters and other aircrafts.

“We are looking at what assistance we can give immediately and that may entail medical assistance and sending medical personnel and people with expertise in search and rescue. We are hoping that by this evening an assessment of the situation would have been made and we can get a better appreciation of the kind of assistance that is immediately required."

With St Lucia being used as an operational base for the humanitarian effort, the government has agreed in conjunction with the St Lucia Air and Sea Port Authority to waive fees and facilitate the use of warehouse facilities for receipt and distribution.

Meanwhile, the political leader of St Lucia Labour Party, Philip J Pierre, said the party has initiated a drive to help Dominica, and the party has opened its headquarters in order to receive donations.