Coastal erosion taking place the North windward side of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has put the village of Sandy Bay at risk.
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves highlighted concern last Friday as he delivered the keynote address at a workshop which looked at strengthening integrated early Warning systems far more effective disaster risk reduction in the Caribbean through knowledge and tool transfer.
The Prime Minister said here is immense erosion taking place at that coastal village “and you can bet your life that if something is not done quickly that village will go.”
The Prime Minister said that there were discussions of 4 million US Dollars financing with the Caribbean Development Bank4 a disaster management Project. However, raised the concern about the length of time the approval it’s taking because of assessments. He said that the Caribbean Development Bank expediting the process but it has taken so long more disasters are taking place and the CDB has to conduct a further assessment.
“Nature is not waiting on us or the bank… We’re getting the money but we have to move quickly on it. Because, as the sun rises tomorrow it will be 25 million and then 30 million,” the prime minister stated.
The prime minister added, “We can’t allow for the sea to take the land.”
The government is seeking to construct a sea defense at Sandy Bay as part of disaster risk management.