“
CANOUAN, St. Vincent and the Grenadines – July 1, 2025 — One year after Hurricane Beryl wreaked havoc across the Southern Grenadines, Minister of Finance Hon. Camillo Gonsalves says the people’s resilience has triumphed over devastation.
Speaking during a solemn remembrance ceremony held in Canouan today, Minister Gonsalves highlighted the progress made in the face of adversity and the road still ahead.
“When Hurricane Beryl struck, over 3,000 people were displaced and 90 percent of all buildings were damaged or destroyed,” the Minister recalled. “Yet, a year later, not only are we recovering, but we are thriving and doing better than ever in the Southern Grenadines.”
Gonsalves reported that the Government has so far spent more than EC$20 million on restoring electricity, EC$5 million on providing free shuttle services between the mainland and the Southern Grenadines, EC$12 million on income support, and millions more on rebuilding homes and schools.
He expressed gratitude to key benefactors such as British investor Ian Wace, the Gumbolimbo Group, and various friendly governments who played vital roles in the recovery process.
The Finance Minister emphasized that while reconstruction continues, the legacy of Hurricane Beryl is still visible. Currently, 1,557 people remain on monthly income support, and approximately 700 residents are still living in rented accommodations.
“In the face of crisis, the ingenuity of the people of Canouan came to the fore,” Gonsalves said. “Everywhere there was destruction, someone saw an opportunity to rebuild. Everywhere there was hopelessness, someone saw hope. Everyone worked together to imagine a resilient Canouan—and worked to achieve it.”
The ceremony served as both a commemoration of loss and a celebration of unity, resilience, and the power of community-led recovery.