On Tuesday, Prime Minister Gaston Browne, along with other leaders of the sub-regional Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), visited the grenadines islands of Canouan and Union yesterday to assess the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.

The hurricane wreaked havoc on the 32-island chain, causing extensive damage to islands such as Carriacou, Petite Martinique, and Union Island.

This resulted in the unfortunate loss of at least three lives and millions of dollars in damage.

PM Browne’s visit to the Grenadines, which occurred on a Tuesday, aimed to witness the impact of the hurricane firsthand.

“Union, like Barbuda in 2017 is now a mangled wreck as a result of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Beryl. We stand in solidarity with our affected brothers and sisters in St Vincent & the Grenadines and stand ready to be of any further assistance,” he said

The Grenadines comprise 32 islands, with the largest ones being Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, and Union.

Notably, some of the smaller islands are privately owned.

Administratively, the northern Grenadines are a part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, while the southern islands are under the dependency of Grenada.

During the assessment, PM Browne was joined by other regional leaders, including those from Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts-Nevis.

They were also accompanied by the Premier of the Cayman Islands, Julianna O’Connor-Connolly.

In a show of unity, the leaders, along with St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, emphasized the critical role played by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who chairs a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) prime ministerial sub-committee on rehabilitation efforts.

Additionally, Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit expressed his disappointment with the international community for not taking “responsibilities” for the damage caused by climate change.

He highlighted the negative impact of climate change on the region and emphasized the urgent need for support.

PM Skerrit’s remarks drew attention to the region’s struggle with the consequences of a war they did not provoke, reiterating the need for equitable international assistance in addressing the challenges posed by climate change.