Kingstown St. Vincent May 11, 026- Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Innovation, Digital Transformation and Information Lavern King has revealed that she was among sea moss farmers who benefited from grant assistance following the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl, as efforts continue to rebuild livelihoods in the Southern Grenadines.
Speaking at the SusGren National Sea Moss Expo on mainland St Vincent on 8 May, the minister said the support programme had provided an opportunity for small grant recipients from Union Island, Mayreau, Canouan and Bequia to showcase innovation and creativity within the sea moss industry.
Ms King, who said she was speaking not only as a government minister but also as a sea moss farmer, described the grants as critical support for people trying to rebuild businesses affected by the hurricane.
“When we have partners that come together and realise that there is something here worth investing in, we are and continue to be extremely grateful,” she said.
“I hope that I’m able to provide that perspective, not from a ministerial level, but from another sea moss farmer who understands the struggles of what it means to be investing in such a business and the gratitude that we do feel when there are grants available for this sort of thing.”
She added that value-added producers within the sector also played an important role by creating an immediate market for farmers producing sea moss.
The comments come as St Vincent and the Grenadines continues recovery efforts nearly two years after Hurricane Beryl struck the country in July 2024, causing widespread destruction across the Southern Grenadines.
Union Island, Mayreau and Canouan were among the areas hardest hit by the Category 4 hurricane, with thousands displaced and significant damage reported to homes, businesses and infrastructure.
Since then, several recovery initiatives have been launched to support small business owners, including grants for entrepreneurs and agricultural producers seeking to restart operations.
The World Bank-backed Beryl Emergency Resilient Recovery (BERRy) Project, valued at US$63 million, has provided grants ranging from US$1,000 to US$3,000 to micro and small businesses affected by the hurricane, alongside training and business support programmes. More than 260 businesses had reportedly received assistance by the end of 2025, with women-led enterprises accounting for the majority ofbeneficiaries.
Additional support has also been directed towards the sea moss industry. Earlier this year, the St Vincent and the Grenadines Conservation Fund announced grant opportunities of up to EC$25,000 aimed at supporting sustainable sea moss farming, value-added production and coastal livelihoods.