‘Painful beyond words’: Prince Charles visits Antigua and Barbuda

Last updated: November 20, 2017 at 11:23 am

The devastating effects of hurricanes in the Caribbean have been described as “utterly heartbreaking” by Prince Charles.

The Prince of Wales was speaking after meeting families in Antigua, as part of a three-day trip to the region.

He landed in Antigua on Friday before visiting Barbuda and the British Virgin Islands.

He was met by Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams and Lady Williams and Prime Minister Gaston Brown and his wife.

He ended his trip in Dominica yesterday.

The royal met Barbudans living in Antigua, forced to relocate to their sister island temporarily after their homes had been destroyed during Hurricane Irma.

He then headed over to Barbuda, seeing first-hand the roofless houses. He visited a primary school that his son, Prince Harry, went to on a visit last year.

The school is now abandoned.

The Barbuda affairs minister Arthur Nibbs told the prince that the force of the hurricane was "unprecedented" in 200 years.

Prince Charles highlighted the belief of climate experts that global warming is already intensifying tropical storms.

"This will get worse with continuous warming," he said.

Only about 100 of the island's 1,700 residents remain.

The prince stopped at the home of one of them, Evans Thomas, 50, who had turned his house into a makeshift bar after the nearby pub was destroyed.

Prince Charles said his aim in making the visit was to show the Commonwealth's support for people who had suffered in the hurricanes and to thank the aid and rescue workers who were supporting them.

He said: "The recent events in the Caribbean have helped to underline the importance of the Commonwealth as a family, whose members care deeply for each other in times of need."