Boris praises storm-hit islanders
BORIS Johnson yesterday praised the islanders of Anguilla for their clear-up work after Hurricane Irma – and claimed that Britain’s response to the disaster had been “extremely fast”.
As the Foreign Secretary visited the British Overseas Territory, the Prime Minister almost doubled the UK aid package to £57million.
British Royal Marines and Royal Engineers have helped repair the damage. Mr Johnson said: “You can’t help but be affected by the scale of devastation the people of Anguilla have endured.”
Before heading to the wind-ravaged British Virgin Islands, Mr Johnson visited the Princess Alexandra Hospital, which suffered 60 per cent damage in the storm.
He said: “The achievement in getting this place back on its feet belongs to the Anguillan people.
“It seems to me you are doing a fantastic job. Keep it up, this place will be back up on its feet before very long.
“I want you to know the UK is going to be with you not just in the short-term, but in the long-term as well.”
Britain has some 1,200 troops on the ground on British territories in the Caribbean while the Royal Navy support vessel Royal Fleet Auxiliary Mounts Bay has been delivering aid.
The UK is also sending two Chinook helicopters, which are capable of heavy lifting.
And HMS Ocean is on its way from Gibraltar packed with stores, but is not due to arrive for around nine days. Victor Banks, chief minister of Anguilla, praised Mr Johnson’s response time, saying he had called “within hours” of the passing of the storm.
But he said Theresa May’s original £32million aid package for the British Overseas Territories was not enough, especially as Anguilla’s infrastructure repair bill alone could reach £1billion.
Dorothea Hodge, a former UK/EU representative for Anguilla, told how many islanders were still without power, including her 91-yearold uncle, and warned that the Government should have been prepared.
She said: “Food and water could have been stockpiled as scientists were predicting an unprecedented season of hurricanes.
“I know from my time these details would have been coming into the Foreign Office.
“The plans they are putting in place now a week after the hurricane should have already been in place.”