Extremely dangerous Hurricane Beryl: President Ali assures of Guyana’s support for Caribbean nations

…as Caricom Heads of Govt Meeting postponed

Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali, current Chair of the Caribbean Community, has offered reassurance to Caribbean nations in the direct path of Hurricane Beryl.
President Ali in a social media post on Sunday stated, “our prayers, love, and thoughts are with all of our Caribbean brothers and sisters, especially those in the direct path of Hurricane Beryl. Today, I spoke with many leaders to assure them of Guyana’s support, and we are all praying for the best. I appeal to all citizens in the region to follow their national advisories.”
With the region bracing for the landing of Hurricane Beryl, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat on Sunday announced the postponement of the upcoming Meeting of Heads of Government that was scheduled to be held in Grenada later this week.
The 47th Regular Meeting of Caricom Heads of Government was set for July 3 to 5 at the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort Hotel, Grand Anse – just outside the St George’s capital.
Citing Hurricane Beryl’s impending passage through the region, Caricom said in a statement that the meeting was postponed to a date to be determined.
The opening ceremony of the Heads of Government Meeting was slated to get underway on Wednesday evening at the St George’s University during which there was expected to be addressed by Caricom Secretary-General, Dr Carla Barnett; Outgoing Chairman of CARICOM, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and Incoming CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell. The ceremony would’ve also seen the Conferral of the Order of the Caribbean Community to Sir Clive Lloyd and Mr Roderick Rainford as well as the Admission of Curaçao as an Associate Member.
The opening ceremony would be followed by two days of closed business sessions and then the hosting of the 17th CARICOM Road Races at the Camerhogne Park, Grand Anse.
Nevertheless, with the postponement, the Secretariat said “The primary focus of the Community is now on citizen safety and security. Several Member States, including host nation Grenada, are now engaged in emergency preparations and planning to address the aftermath of the hurricane.”
It went onto implore everyone in the path of the Hurricane to take all necessary protective measures, while assuring of the Community’s readiness to support Member States that will be affected by this dangerous hurricane.
Based on reports, Hurricane Beryl strengthened into an “extremely dangerous” Category Four storm on Sunday as it approached the southeast Caribbean.
According to a CBS News article, forecasters have warned that the first major hurricane of the Atlantic season would bring life-threatening winds and storm surge to the Windward Islands today.
The article stated as of 14:00h on Sunday, Beryl was located about 310 miles east-southeast of Barbados with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph and was moving west at 21 mph.
Hurricane warnings are already in effect in Barbados, St Lucia, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Tobago. Tropical storm warnings are also in effect for Martinique, while a tropical storm watch is in effect in Dominica and Trinidad.
“This is a very serious situation developing for the Windward Islands,” warned the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.
The article further stated that the center said that Beryl was “forecast to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge … as an extremely dangerous hurricane.”
CBS News added that Beryl is on track to move across the Windward Islands early on today as an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 hurricane before traveling through the southeastern Caribbean tonight and Tuesday.
Two hurricane hunters were en route to the storm to gather more details about its intensity, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Meanwhile, Caribbean Airlines has already announced cancelling several scheduled flights across the region – including flights between Guyana and Barbados – due to the impending passage of Hurricane Beryl and the severe weather expected.
The airline said it has already reached out to affected passengers who will be accommodated on the next available service.
The last Regular Meeting of the Caricom Heads of Government was held in February in Georgetown, Guyana. At the time, SG Barnett had recognised the significance of the meeting being here since Guyana is one of the four Signatories to the Original Treaty of Chaguaramas that formed the Community.
President Ali, as Caricom Chairman, had stressed the importance of accountability to the people of the Region and of ensuring the fulfilment of commitments made. He highlighted initiatives in areas including Food Security, Climate Change, Regional Digitalisation and Youth, and Regional Transport.
The Guyanese Leader had also underscored the “brilliance of culture” in the Region. “In this Region, culture is our staple. Culture is that common thread that brings us together,” President Ali emphasised.
During that meeting, the Conference of Heads of Conference received an update on efforts towards achieving the 25 by 2025 Food and Nutrition Security Initiative, which is being led by Guyana.
Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, who Chairs the Ministerial Taskforce on Food Production and Food Security, had informed regional Heads that there has been increased awareness and buy-in to improve Food and Nutrition Security in the Region, and outlined that more than 73 projects and programmes which support the 25 by 2025 initiative are being implemented by over 13 regional partners and donors. Another 20 or so initiatives are at different stages of formulation. (G8)