St. Vincent gov’t o provide housing for Union Island residents still displaced after Hurricane Beryl

The government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has announced plans to provide housing in Union Island for residents who remain displaced on mainland St. Vincent following the passage of Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

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Prime Minister Godwin Friday said returning Union Island residents to their communities and restarting economic activity are central to the island’s recovery. Speaking on Boom FM on Christmas Eve, Friday said the issue of housing has been a major barrier for displaced residents, many of whom are currently renting rooms or guesthouse accommodations in St. Vincent.

Hurricane Beryl caused extensive damage across the Southern Grenadines on July 1, 2024, affecting Mayreau, Canouan and Union Island, where more than 90 percent of buildings were damaged. Thousands of residents were forced to relocate temporarily to St. Vincent as recovery efforts began.

Friday, whose New Democratic Party won the November 27 general election, again criticized the pace of recovery under the previous Unity Labour Party administration. He argued that basic services in Union Island have largely been restored, raising questions about why residents have not yet been relocated.

According to the prime minister, conditions on Union Island have now improved to the point where people can be accommodated, though he acknowledged the transition will take time. He said his administration is working intensively to make housing available, including the use of temporary solutions if necessary.

As part of earlier recovery measures, the former government refurbished the Teachers’ College campus at Arnos Vale to house students from Union Island schools. Friday said most students have since returned to their campuses in Union Island or enrolled elsewhere, leaving the Arnos Vale facility underused. The government has decided to close the campus and integrate the remaining students into other schools.

Friday said the administration intends to redirect resources toward housing displaced residents back in their home communities rather than maintaining temporary arrangements on the mainland.

He also raised concerns about the management of a prefabricated housing programme initiated by the previous government, noting that only about 100 units had arrived and that construction challenges were reported in some locations. He said discussions are ongoing with Housing Minister Andrew John to determine whether to continue with the programme or pivot to building homes locally using available materials.

In separate remarks on Hot 97 FM, Friday said the earlier recovery strategy focused heavily on repairing homes while giving insufficient attention to reviving businesses in the Southern Grenadines. He argued that neglecting commercial recovery has left displaced residents without jobs, compounding their challenges as government assistance and rental support taper off.

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The prime minister said his government aims to address both housing and economic recovery simultaneously, stressing that returning people to their communities with opportunities for employment is essential to ending what he described as a prolonged period of uncertainty for displaced families.