Emotions ran high for many yacht owners as they left Trinidad to return to St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada after the passage of Hurricane Beryl. The yachties had come to Trinidad to shelter from the hurricane, and now their return is focused on sending relief to those affected.
Yacht owner captain Keith Dyer, a US citizen who operates his vessel in Grenada, said, “It really hurts to see what’s happening up there, and I have made some good friends up there, so it is a tough time for those on the island. It really is.”
Dyer volunteered his vessel to send supplies and left on Thursday for Grenada. What was supposed to be a vacation trip for members of the San Pedro Seventh-day Adventist Church turned into a mission of assistance when they seized the opportunity to use Captain Dyer’s catamaran to deliver aid.
Speaking to Guardian Media, church member Anson Paul said the church was supposed to visit St Vincent and the Grenadines for a vacation, but now it was a mission to assist those affected.
“Well, as a matter of fact, next Wednesday, a group of 20 was to go to St Vincent, onto Bequia, and then on to Union Island. Where we were to stay on Union Island, that house’s roof is gone. Bequia, where we were to stay in the primary school, that school is still intact. So, it moved from a vacation to assistance now. So, it’s a team that’s going over to do work,” he said.
Over 150 vessels that came from Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados to shelter from the hurricane are now leaving for their respective ports. Marine Services Association of Trinidad and Tobago vice president Jesse James made a call to the public to drop off relief items, as the returning vessels will provide free transportation.
“If anybody wants to send, please bring it on again. There’s no charge. The visiting cruisers they want to help,” he said.
James said the owners of vessels that had returned to the islands were already giving real-time information on current needs.
“They were talking to us and saying this is what we’re seeing here right now. This is what’s happening. So, they’re scouting out. We’re liaising with people who are up there directly and giving us the information. So, when it goes up there, it’s going directly to the people in need and not just being, you know, left on the ports,” he said.
Peake’s marine vessel, Calypso II, is also expected to leave today. Director Christopher Peake said they intend to reach Grenada in 16 hours, and they are expected to carry tarpaulins, water, and other items. Local non-governmental organisation Is There Not a Cause (ITNAC) has also activated its relief efforts and has already been in contact with other groups in the affected islands.
Director Avonelle Hector, who is expected to leave Trinidad for Grenada next week, said, “So, if we don’t land there by the weekend, our partners are on standby to receive those items and to deal with it.” She said her organisation would be in for the long haul.
“At least a month in the first instance, because these assets come up in the news and after nine days, 12 days, people need to go back to life, but for the victims, life doesn’t go back to normal for a long, long, long time. So, we kind of made a steady journey with the people. This first phase is the food, clothes, water, and emergency housing, but after that, we want to look at how we can help and how we can work with Habitat for Humanity and other agencies,” Hector said.