Grenada prime minister Keith Mitchell and his cabinet were meeting last night to decide on a limited state of emergency for the island in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Ivan.
By Gail AlexanderMitchell, meeting with his cabinet colleagues for the first time since the disaster, yesterday implemented a 6 am-6 pm curfew, adding that he needed to decide on some type of state of emergency, given the urgent situation.
T&T journalists, who arrived in Grenada aboard supply tug MV Scout, found the island exactly as Mitchell described it the day before, a ?national disaster area.?
Trees were strewn all over, every single structure on the island was damaged in some way, and all utilities were down. The island was also littered with debris.
The stretch of hotels along Grande Anse Beach was also severely hit, as is the capital, St George?s and all other areas.
Mitchell estimated that schools could only be reopened in three months.
The PM spoke to journalists from his private residence at Happy Hill, since his residence and that of the Governor General were severely damaged by the hurricane.
Mitchell projected that the Point Saline Airport may be opened by tomorrow.
So far, only emergency flights are being allowed in.
This included a BWIA flight which brought T&T Defence Force soldiers, who were immediately deployed to guard Mitchell?s residence.
Mitchell also said that the majority the 400-strong prison population of the Richmond Hill Prison, which was severely damaged by the hurricane, had been recaptured.
He said the 17 prisoners involved in the 1983 coup attempt, which led to the which led to the murder of former PM Maurice Bishop, were still confined, save for two who were still at large.
The fugitives are Leon Cornwall and AJ Austin.
Mitchell said Bernard Coard, leader of the coup, did not try to escape.
Mitchell also said that looting, which was rampant on the island, had been brought under some measure of control around the town, due to the assistance of the regional security forces.
He said British naval officers, who arrived aboard the HMS Richmond, were also helping at hospitals and with clearing roads.
Mitchell also assured that the destroyed National Stadium, which was built by Minister Colm Imbert?s construction company, would be rebuilt in time to host matches in the 2007 cricket World Cup.
