Destruction by Hurricane Beryl: “Take with you” love, pride, rich tradition of “what makes us Guyanese” – Pres Ali

…as Guyana deploys 50 more GDF ranks to aid in rebuilding efforts in Grenada

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Dr Irfaan Ali, has lauded a group of 50 Guyanese soldiers who will soon leave local shores to aid in rebuilding efforts in the Caribbean Island of Grenada which was battered by Hurricane Beryl last week.
Under a special exercise dubbed ‘Operation Beret’, the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) 50-member contingent is slated to depart Guyana on Sunday.

Last week, as a category five hurricane, Beryl ploughed through the Caribbean with record-breaking wind speeds, causing massive destruction in several islands including loss of lives. Among the affected countries are: Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines – all Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Addressing the ranks at the army’s Camp Ayanganna Headquarters in Georgetown on Friday afternoon, President Ali said their sacrifice is a representation of core values of the GDF, that is, service to nation and people. He told the soldiers that they will be making a difference in the lives of their Caricom neighbours by helping to recover and rebuild.
“You’re not only going to be contributing to the rebuilding of infrastructure, homes and offices but you’ll be contributing to the rebuilding of lives and livelihood, and to the returning of normalcy to a sister State.”

“Your mission would involve primarily, the rebuilding of key installation of infrastructure so that government and government services can return in a quick and efficient manner, and to assist in the rebuilding of key services such as health and education,” he stated.
The Head of State further reassured that Guyana’s assets including its human resources and prosperity would always be used to bring about positive changes and create a long-standing impact especially in the region.
“Today, you have this opportunity, like your peers had two decades ago [with Hurricane Ivan], to make a mark and to be part of an effort that would restore life and livelihoods. And lives are restored because they’re destabilised now; they are scattered and for those lives to be restored, these infrastructures are critical. For those livelihoods to be restored, these investments are critical.”
“You take with you the love, pride and rich tradition of what makes us Guyanese; strength of character, and a sense of purpose as you help assist this nation within Caricom to rebuild,” the Commander-in-Chief told the ranks.
To aid with these rebuilding efforts, Guyana has already dispatched building materials and equipment to the Caribbean nation.
These efforts are part of a larger regional mobilisation where Caricom Member States were assigned to assist a specific country impacted by Hurricane Beryl. Guyana was allocated Grenada based on request.
Consequently, earlier this week, a GDF assessment team travelled to Grenada to conduct a damage assessment and needs analysis ahead of the contingent’s main body arrival this weekend.
Ambassadors
Additionally, a smaller group of eight ranks was deployed shortly after Hurricane Beryl to Grenada. The three-member Advance team from the GDF’s Engineer Battalion was the first outside help to arrive in Grenada and immediately assisted the Ministry of Local Government on Carriacou Island with repairs to a section of the Princess Royal Smart Hospital, which was damaged by the natural disaster.
Meanwhile, during Friday’s engagement, GDF’s Chief-of-Defence-Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, told this second batch of soldiers that they are going to these affected countries as Ambassadors of Guyana.
“You are our ambassadors – to Guyana and to the GDF. We expect that you will play a very critical and important role as you execute the rebuilding process. The mission is just that. Your time away will be determined based on the scope of work but certainly, we do not believe that it would be forever. I give you and wish you best wishes on this important mission,” Brigadier Khan stated.
On July 1, categorised as the earliest Category 5 hurricane before decreasing to Category 4, Beryl caused widespread devastation in Grenada, severely impacting the islands of Carriacou and Petit Martinique, where 70 per cent and 97 per cent of buildings were damaged or destroyed, respectively. It was reported too that disaster also destroyed the country’s livestock, permanent crops and cash crops.
Hurricane Beryl came as Grenada was preparing to host the 47th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government from July 3 to 5 at the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort Hotel, Grand Anse – just outside the St George’s capital.
The meeting, which comes as Grenada takes over the CARICOM Chairmanship, has since been rescheduled to July 28 to 30 in St George’s.
Since Hurricane Beryl’s impact across the region, the Guyana Government, as well as the local private sector and other NGOs, have been mobilising support to make much-needed and critical donations to the affected countries. (G8)