Kingstown St. Vincent May 19th, 2026 – More than 1,000 donated windows are expected to be shipped to Union Island as St Vincent and the Grenadines steps up efforts to rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Beryl.
Housing Minister Andrew John said the supplies were donated through support from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and would help accelerate repairs for families still struggling months after the storm.
Speaking on NBC Radio, John said housing assessors had already identified close to 100 homes on Union Island requiring windows and related repairs.
The minister said the government had also begun organising small contracts and transporting construction materials, including cement and sand, to the island as part of the rebuilding effort.
“One of our major focus is not just on rebuilding the houses but putting people back down there where we could start seeing business taking off again,” he said.
John acknowledged that frustration remained among some residents affected by the hurricane, particularly in Union Island, where many people felt they had not received enough support after the disaster.
He said part of the ministry’s task was now to restore public confidence while helping displaced residents return home.
“So, part of my job now is not just to fix people’s homes, but to give people the assurance that we care about the situation,” the minister added.
According to John, some residents from the southern Grenadines are still living in rented accommodation because their homes remain uninhabitable.
Hurricane Beryl struck the southern Grenadines in July 2025, causing widespread destruction to homes, businesses and infrastructure across Union Island, Canouan and Mayreau.