Journalist Lyf Compton shared detailed observations following a weekend tour of the Southern Grenadines (specifically Union Island and Canouan) with the Minister of Housing, Andrew John, and the parliamentary representative, Terrace Olliviere.
Speaking on WEFM morning show, he emphasized that his visit taught him a lesson about “perception,” advising listeners not to simply accept what politicians say but to investigate the situation for themselves. Although he had visited the region roughly 15 to 20 times during the rebuilding process, he witnessed things on this specific trip that he had never seen before,.
Compton described the situation in the Southern Grenadines as a “monumental task” for the government,. His specific observations included:
Tents and Shells: With hurricane season approaching, people are still living in tents. While some structures have been erected, many are merely shells; they have roofs but lack essential fittings like doors and windows, rendering them “uninhabitable”,.
Infrastructure: He noted that main jetties and wharves, particularly on Mayreau, appear unstable and look as though they could “collapse at any minute”.
Island Differences: Compton observed that Canouan is the “best off” among the islands, partly due to assistance from a billionaire who helped put roofs on houses. However, Mayreau still has a large number of unfinished or partially built houses.
Compton highlighted several complicated issues hindering the rebuilding efforts beyond just construction:
Displacement: There are still 700 people from the islands living in rented accommodations on the mainland, costing the government approximately one million dollars a month.
Legal and Social Obstacles: He noted that some residents cannot help themselves or return to their previous living situations. Issues include landlords refusing to let former tenants return, family disputes over land ownership, and a lack of land space to build full homes.
Compton expressed concern regarding how the new administration will fund the necessary work, describing the economy as struggling. He noted that the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program seems to be facing problems, though he mentioned that the World Bank had recently toured the area, suggesting potential financing might come from them,.
Despite the devastation, Compton pointed out that while some displaced persons do not want to return, the communities are filled with people who love the islands and “would never leave”.