Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has issued a comprehensive statement ahead of Tropical Storm Beryl, set to impact St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Monday, July 1st, with expected hurricane conditions by mid-morning.
Dr. Gonsalves urged families to prepare emergency supplies, including water, food, and medication. Supermarkets and gas stations are encouraged to extend their hours late Saturday and throughout Sunday to facilitate these preparations.
Emergency shelters will be activated by 6:00 pm on Sunday, June 30. Citizens are advised to bring essential supplies with them. The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) will be fully operational from 8:00 pm on Sunday.
All events scheduled on Sunday afternoon and evening have been postponed for public safety. Residents with temporary structures in Kingstown are asked to dismantle them to prevent them from becoming projectiles. Additionally, all bars in Kingstown must close by 9:00 pm on Sunday.
Despite the impending storm, the Junior Pan event will proceed as scheduled. BRAGSA will deploy heavy machinery to the Grenadines for cleanup and essential services, with private contractors urged to assist.
Prime Minister Gonsalves noted that normal business operations are unlikely to proceed on Monday, aside from essential services. The SVG Met Services and NEMO will continue to monitor and provide updates on Tropical Storm Beryl’s progress.