A multi-discipline team from the OECS Secretariat arrives in Grenada Tuesday 26^th July  to begin a macro socio-economic assessment of the damage from hurricane Emily which hit the island July 13^th, affecting houses, public buildings, the agriculture sector, infrastructure and the environment.

The team, led by Director of the Secretariat’s Social and Sustainable Division, Dr. Vasantha Chase, includes four macro-economists, two agriculture sector specialists, two social sector specialists, and a fisheries sector and environment sector specialist.

They will document and analyse the direct and indirect effect of Emily on Grenada’s short, medium and long term economic performance, to guide discussion on rehabilitation and recovery requirements.The assessment will be done in four categories: Social (with specific reference to the housing stock and the psycho-social trauma of vulnerable groups); Productive (with reference to the agricultural sector); Infrastructural (with reference to roads and drainage, utilities, and coastal infrastructure); and Environment (with reference to the impact of damage to watersheds on water quality and coastal resources, as well as ecosystems and habitat damages).

A similar assessment by the Secretariat following hurricane Ivan formed the basis for targeted efforts by regional and international development agencies at recovery and rehabilitation. That assessment put the overall damage from hurricane Ivan at 2.5 billion U.S dollars,  representing 250 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

Grenada’s National Emergency Advisory Council has received preliminary estimates of damage from hurricane Emily at more than US200 million. The estimates indicate that more than 3000 houses and a number of public buildings including hospitals and police stations were damaged or destroyed. The agriculture sector also recorded significant damage. Emily’s passage met Grenada just ten months into its recovery and reconstruction programme following the devastation caused by hurricane Ivan, one of the most powerful to his the region in recent times.

The assessment team will present a summary of its findings to the Grenada Cabinet of Ministers next Tuesday, August 2^nd.

For more information please contact: 
OECS Communications Officers Kendol Morgan: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   
Raymond Okeiffe: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it