PM Kamla offers St Lucia aid "with no strings attached"; Island needs $3B for reconstruction

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar tours devastated areas in St Lucia

Prime Minister Dr Stephenson King of St Lucia on Friday praised his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, for her quick response to assist his country following the devastationc aused by Hurricane Tomas.

Persad-Bissessar led a delegation of officials and experts to St Lucia Friday to assess the damage and meet with government representatives.

Speaking after a meeting with Persad-Bissessar at his official residence in Castries, King said he is grateful for whatever assistance Persad-Bissessar’s Government could offer.

Persad-Bissessar assured King that Trinidad and Tobago remains committed to assisting the people of St Lucia. 

She was emphatic that there are no strings attached "to the humanitarian aid that we bring and will continue to send to you for reconstruction.”

King told Persad-Bissessar St Lucia needs about TT$3 billion to recover. He said one urgent need is fresh water. Trinidad and Tobago has already sent two shipments of packaged water and the United States has a contingent of engineering specialist troops on the island working on restoring the water supply.

Persad-Bissessar made it clear that Trinidad and Tobago is unable to provide that much aid. However she pledged to do the best she could.

The hurricane destroyed more than 100 houses on the south-eastern part of the island. Persad-Bissessar toured the affected areas and distributed hampers to people affected by the storm. Seven people were killed by the hurricane and at least seven others are still missing.