 Several government agencies are conducting damage assessments in various sectors impacted by the passage of Hurricane Elsa. Hurricane Elsa battered St. Lucia as a Category 1 hurricane on Friday 2 July 2021. Living in its path damaged to the country's infrastructure, agriculture and utilities, the greatest damage being recorded in the agriculture sector. Prime Minister the Honourable Alan Shastney on Sunday provided an update on the damage recorded and recovery plan for St. Lucia. The Ministry of Education, there were several schools in which the roofs were damaged as well as the CDC buildings, eight of the buildings the roofs were badly damaged but 13 buildings were impacted altogether. In terms of individual households we're still doing a full assessment, I believe the teams are still on the ground determining how many homes were actually impacted and we've gotten from different constituencies obviously you would appreciate different numbers so far but I'm hoping that by tomorrow Monday that would receive a more accurate update on the number of households specifically that have been hindered. We have received word from CRIF which is the Catastrophic Insurance Program that we have that the numbers that they have received so far that we're not going to be expecting a significant payout from a more than likely just a deductible that we have which is about 130,000 US dollars so it means that the Ministry of Finance is already looking for ways to reallocate existing funds to be able to assist in getting the Ministry of Agriculture back on track again and certainly working with the Ministry of Infrastructure in dealing with some immediate needs and really the big one would really be the Ministry of Education and through the Ministry of Equity some of the individual households particularly to the more vulnerable persons in our society. The Prime Minister noting that this is only the beginning of the hurricane season indicated that swift action must be taken to ensure the recovery of the country and preparations for storms to come. He explained that the Government of St. Lucia following the passage of Hurricane Elsa immediately began recovery efforts. Instructions have been given to the Ministry of Housing to move very swiftly to replace the roof at CDC Billings so that's going to start on Monday. Two that we will find resources to help support the farmers so I don't want the farmers to believe in any way that there's any question. I think what the Minister was making reference to is to exactly what those interventions are going to be. We have the example of Kurt of some of the things that we have done. We believe they may need of some additional interventions and different types of interventions. We know that the fertilizer is one of them. Certainly whether in fact we're going to give some labor support and how that mechanism would work if necessary. So from a farmer, from a banana growers and also planting growers there is going to be an intervention. I think that I know that we will find resources or some mechanism to deal with the greenhouses that have been lost once the full assessment has been established. But I certainly want to let the farmers know in all constituencies that the Government will make resources available once the Ministry of Agriculture finalizes the plants. But they will be in a needed intervention. Prime Minister Honable Shasne also assured that the Government will be providing immediate relief to individuals affected by the passage of Hurricane Elsa. I just really want to emphasize to everyone just in case there was any misconception the Government is not hesitating to support our farmers in this particularly difficult period and despite our own financial constraints. This is too important of a sector and that also applies to the Fisher folk as well. Again I can't say tonight how much and how I have to wait for those details from the Ministry but I give them the assurances as we did in the meeting yesterday that the Ministry of Finance will find those resources from somewhere to be able to make an immediate intervention and lastly but not least individual households, the Ministry of Equity will be working with many of the vulnerable persons in our society who have been who have lost roofs whose houses have been further compromised to do a very quick assessment and for us to be able to provide some immediate relief to those persons because we recognize we're still in the middle of our hurricane season and we have to move quickly. Members of the public are urged to ensure they are in a state of preparedness as the hurricane season runs from June to November. Farmers are also urged to remain vigilant and stay tuned to trusted sources for reliable information. From the Government Information Service, I am Janelle Norvell.