The British government has allocated over 92 million pounds sterling to assist Caribbean islands affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Hurricane assistance
Britain is providing more financial assistance to Antigua and Barbuda as well as Dominica to help recovery and long-term reconstruction on the islands following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September.
International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who accompanied Prince Charles on a visit to the two hurricane ravaged countries over the weekend, set out a new £15 million package for Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda. Dominica will receive £12 million and Antigua and Barbuda three million pounds.
The visiting British government official said this in addition to a further £15 million recently allocated to the affected Overseas Territories.
United Kingdom stepped up
“We can be proud that in their time of crisis the United Kingdom stepped up to provide the vital immediate relief that was fundamental in getting these islands back on their feet,” said Mordaunt.
Dominica
The support package, which brings the total UK contribution to £92 million, will include £10m to help Dominica to rebuild critical infrastructure damaged during the hurricanes. The United Kingdom’s contribution to Dominica also includes an additional two million pounds for early recovery, building on the five million pounds committed in September.
Antigua and Barbuda
London said that for Antigua and Barbuda, it stands ready to assist with a three million pound fund which will be deployed once the priorities for reconstruction on Barbuda are agreed with the local government.
Anguilla, BVI and Turks and Caicos
For the Overseas Territories of Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos, the £15 million is delivering accelerated power reconnection and support to prisons, repairs to air and sea ports and support for policing. This is short-term funding to aid the territories’ early steps to recovery.
At the World Bank meetings last month, the UK announced a private sector task force will mobilize business to play a prominent role in the reconstruction in the Overseas Territories.
The task force will identify and drive forward practical ways of increasing flows of private sector financial support to reconstruction in the region.
