Business group co-ordinates regional Beryl relief

BUSINESSES donating relief to areas in the Caribbean damaged by Hurricane Beryl should do so in line with the needs of the affected people, said the Caricom Private Sector Organization (CPSO) on July 2.

As a recently accredited associate institution of Caricom, the CPSO statement was posted on the Caricom website.

CPSO held its first co-ordination meeting on July 1 to mobilise regional private resources to assist those Caricom States impacted by the passage of Hurricane Beryl, which was then traversing the Windward Islands (but has since then brushed the south coast of Jamaica.)

The meeting was held within the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) framework in which CPSO participates on behalf of the regional private sector.

“The meeting, chaired by CPSO executive member Dr Thackwray Driver and supported by CEO Dr Patrick Antoine, sought to ensure the co-ordination and alignment of the private sector response and that participating entities were on standby and in a state of readiness to provide the required aid.”

This first meeting ­­– convened against the backdrop of Hurricane Beryl’s destructive path through Grenada, Carriacou, St Vincent and the Grenadines – was attended by private sector firms and business groups from TT, Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname and Guyana, plus the group, Caribbean Chambers of Commerce (Caricham).

“Ultimately, the assistance and support that we aim at providing must be informed by a needs list,” Driver said.

“Sometimes, unfortunately, well-meaning private sector and other persons may wish to share a variety of items, but we want to ensure that the support we extend matches the needs of the persons and private sectors in the affected countries as much as possible.”

So far, pledges have been made by regional bottled water manufacturers to ensure an emergency supply is ready and on hand if required. Additionally, several manufacturers and conglomerates have been approached to provide relief items. Efforts had also secured warehouse space to stage relief items, marine vessel providers and ground transport services.

“To ensure the support we provide matches the needs of the affected countries, we are in contact with CDEMA and the disaster co-ordinating agencies in the respective countries, co-ordinating with regional private sector associations through Caricham and are awaiting information from them,” Antoine said.

“At this point, we are pooling all of the resources at our disposal and confirming the logistics so that we will be ready to mobilise, move ahead and lend the required support at short notice.”

The statement said the CPSO joined with the community in demonstrating support for the Member States and Caricom people badly affected by the wrath of Hurricane Beryl.

“We will continue to work assiduously in contributing to the critical needs of those affected and to support the rapid recovery of the private sector and the communities in affected Member States.”

Private Sector entities willing to help can contact the CPSO (; tel 868-387-2233 ) to make their contributions consistent with the needs of affected States.

Further updates will be provided as information becomes available. Membership of the CPSO consists of private sector entities operating in the Caricom space, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Details are available at the secretariat at