Сенатор Карлос Джеймс призвал ускорить ремонт жилья после урагана «Берил» и предупредил о выселении жителей

James raises concerns over slow pace of Beryl housing repairs Former Member of Parliament and current Opposition Senator Carlos James has raised concerns over the slow pace of housing repairs following Hurricane Beryl, while warning that changes in the country’s leadership could have broader economic and developmental consequences. Speaking on Star Radio last Wednesday, James also expressed concern over reports that residents from Union Island are facing eviction from guest houses on mainland Saint Vincent. He said the situation was alarming, particularly because arrangements had previously been made to provide temporary accommodation for residents displaced by the hurricane while repairs and reconstruction efforts continued on Union Island. According to James, the government had spent between EC$2 million and EC$3 million annually to accommodate residents from the Southern Grenadines on mainland Saint Vincent following the July 2024 hurricane. He argued that the pace of housing rehabilitation has since slowed considerably, citing figures which he said showed that only 12 houses had been repaired and 52 roofs repaired during an entire quarter. James contrasted those figures with the pace of work under the previous administration, claiming that similar levels of repairs were being undertaken monthly in each constituency during the post-Beryl rehabilitation programme. “We warned about it. We said, if you take a U-turn in the leadership of the country, in the governance in the country, we are going to see a slowdown in not just the economy, but a lot of the projects and the programmes which we are robustly addressing and actively putting in place as it relates to housing and tourism and other things across finance and projects,” James said. He also pointed to delays affecting major development projects, including the hospital project at Arnos Vale, which he claimed had been delayed for approximately 18 months. James said the reported eviction of Union Island residents was particularly troubling, citing the case of a 90-year-old woman who he said had received an eviction notice. “When you saw the devastation that took place there, nearly every house was wiped out, completely destroyed,” he said. James stressed that displaced residents should not be left without adequate accommodation while reconstruction continues. “The residents of Union Island—the right to housing is a significant and important right for our citizens. We can’t leave them on the streets anywhere or in tents on the roadside,” he said.He called for urgent action to accelerate housing repairs and ensure continued support for residents who remain displaced nearly two years after Hurricane Beryl. James maintained that the pace of reconstruction and rehabilitation should be increased to ensure that affected residents can return to safe and permanent homes.