Brooklyn Assembly Member Jaime Williams says that she recently spearheaded a second relief mission to Grenada, Carriacou, and Petit Martinique, following an earlier one in July, in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl.
Williams, the Trinidadian-born representative for the 59th Assembly District Brooklyn, told Caribbean Life on Tuesday that last month’s second venture was “in response to the crucial needs and asks of the citizenry from the aforementioned islands in response to the aftermath of hurricane Beryl.”
The Assembly Member said she and her volunteers packed eight six-foot pallets of “new, essential, everyday items for the benefit of the citizenry.”
Some items were carpenter’s tools for rebuilding homes, baby items, adult diapers, sleeping bags, food, medical and school supplies, toys, and heavy-duty cleaning liquids.
Williams said the pallets were wrapped and shipped to Grenada and Carriacou pending the arrival of the relief team, “who amiably used their own funds and put their daily schedules on hold to complete this crucial mission.”
She said the team arrived on Carriacou “faced with surprisingly unexpected, unnecessary/grating/bureaucratic ‘curve balls.'”
At the mission’s expense, Williams said a truck or lorry was commissioned, loaded with disaster supplies, and delivered to residents at L’Estere Family Shelter, “who were humbly thankful.”
She said a second delivery was made at the soon-to-be completely renovated Princess Royal Smart Hospital, which is atop a hill with a view of Belair.
“Again, the team was humbly ecstatic while unloading boxes of hospital supplies that the medical staff will use throughout their daily routine,” the Assembly Member said.
She said the final drop of supplies was “thankfully accepted by a Carriacouan family who lost their home while attending to a death in the family, just before Beryl delimited parts of the island.”
On day three, Williams said her team chartered and boarded a local fishing boat, packed with three pallets of relief supplies for the one-hour ride to Petite Martinique.
“We were met at the wharf by the citizenry and were graciously granted space for distribution at the barbershop,” she said. “Within two hours, the items were distributed as we looked at smiling faces, bade everyone goodbye, and boarded the boat back to Carriacou with heartfelt relief and satisfaction.”
As the team ferried back to Grenada, Williams said they were “again faced with another bureaucratic ‘curve ball,’“ but were able to clear the release of the last pallet that was bench-marked for delivery to Richmond Home, a geriatric facility.
“As the delivery was made, the staff appreciated our second donation to the facility post-Hurricane Beryl,” Williams said.
“As the group leader, I would like to thank my team, Michael Vincent, president of Grenada Cultural Festival Group, Inc.; Calvin and Latoya Sennon, founders of Visit Canarsie; Dr. Judy Newton, The Newton Foundation, Inc.; and Jennifer Viechweg-Horsford, The Leaders Engaging in All-Round Development International (LEAD IN); to those who supported us on this vital undertaking, such as, State Sen., Roxanne Persaud, SD 19; and, notably, Brooklyn Jefferson Lions Club,” she added.
In July, Williams had led a 13-member contingent of community leaders and volunteers in Canarsie, Brooklyn, to the tri-island nation of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique, carrying relief supplies, especially to the Hurricane Beryl-ravaged Grenada sister-isles of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
Reports indicate that about 98 percent of Carriacou and most of Petite Martinique were ravaged by the Category 5 hurricane, which also devastated other islands in the southern St. Vincent Grenadines, such as Union Island, Canouan, Mayreau, and Palm Island, as well as rural parts of Jamaica.
“Since Hurricane Beryl hit, I’ve been in communication with the CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Consuls General, and we hope we can get concrete commitments from the government,” said Williams, chair of the New York State Assembly’s Sub-Committee on Energy Response and Disaster. “We, as electeds (elected officials), always do fundraisers. It takes nothing to use the money for a good cause. In terms of disaster, we cannot do enough.”
She said she had contacted Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, and the federal government (Chuck Schumer, the US Senate Majority Leader, etc.).
In their letter to Schumer and Gov. Hochul, Williams said she and Assembly Member Brian Cunningham, the representative for the 43rd Assembly District in Brooklyn, whose mother hails from Jamaica, pleaded for immediate aid.
“New York State has always come to the aid of those in need; and, now, with the Caribbean islands reeling from the devastating impact of Hurricane Beryl, the situation is urgent,” they wrote in their letter to Schumer, a copy of which was obtained by Caribbean Life. “Therefore, the New York State Assembly Caribbean Caucus is asking our federal elected officials for immediate assistance.
“The New York State Assembly’s Caribbean Caucus is imploring our federal government to provide a military plane to ship necessary materials and vital federal aid to supplement service restoration,” they added. “Many island nations urgently need power and utility restoration, clearing dangerous debris, medical attention, and assistance with necessary materials on the ground. We would also ask for your intervention to waive the embargo fees to ensure materials arrive quickly to those most in need. “
Besides spending most of their time, during the first mission, on Carriacou, viewing and taking account of the ruins, and distributing relief supplies, Williams said the contingent also visited the northern part of Grenada, particularly the St. Patrick’s constituency, which was also struck by the hurricane.
