Speaker McLaughlin Joins Eastern Caribbean Hurricane Recovery Mission in Cross-political Solidarity

GEORGE TOWN, 18^th July 2024

In the wake of Hurricane Beryl, the Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Sir Alden McLaughlin, joined the Premier, Honourable. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Roy McTaggart, and several Members of Parliament, to deliver supplies to Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday, 16th July 2024.

Several civil and public servants joined the delegation on a special chartered Cayman Airways flight, to assist with coordinating with local authorities and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid.

“This imperative trip underscores our nation’s commitment to international solidarity and support in times of crisis,” said Sir Alden, commenting on the multi-party delegation consisting of the Honourable Premier, Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition, and independent members of the Opposition. “Caribbean people are connected and we share the same concerns and threats right across the region – and when one of us is down, the others, I hope, will rise to support them.”

Members engaged in high-level discussions with elected leaders of both nations, and senior civil servants spoke with their counterparts to learn more about their experiences and the work their offices have been undertaking.

Cayman’s delegates travelled first to Grenada, where they met with Prime Minister Honourable Dickon Mitchell and government officials. The Honourable Speaker McLaughlin had an opportunity to speak with the Honourable Dr. Dessima Williams, President of the Senate of Grenada, as well as the Attorney General of Grenada, Honourable Claudette Joseph.

Sir Alden remarked: “It was an honour to speak with leaders of Grenada, and to hear about their efforts in the nation’s disaster response. All of us who live in this part of the world know that none of us are immune from hurricanes, and the role of the legislature is imperative in ensuring adequate risk management procedures and responsibilities are in place.”

Following the discussion in Grenada, the delegates travelled with Prime Minister Mitchell to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where they met with that nation’s Prime Minister, Honourable Ralph Gonsalves and Members of the House of Assembly. “I’m part of the old guard, so I have known Dr. Ralph Gonsalves for many years and it was good to see him again,” noted the Speaker.

As the international diplomacy discussions took place, public servants from Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) met with disaster response representatives from key NGOs to oversee the offloading of essential aid and support.

Returning to Cayman, Sir Alden considered the impact of hurricanes on Caymanians and the importance of international diplomacy in the region. “Hurricane Beryl’s very close brush is something that I think makes everyone who lives in Cayman nervous, but underscores the importance of being prepared. It is good that we can help our neighbours, and as one of the Prime Ministers said, ‘not to just send a cheque, but to be present in solidarity’.”