Saint Lucia
After hurricane, Christians on island of St. Lucia face drinking water crisis
Less than a week before it skirted the coast of Haiti, Hurricane Tomas devastated the Caribbean island of St. Lucia.
“Our major roads, rivers, water dam and water system — in addition to our agriculture and tourism industry — have all succumbed tremendously to the wrath of this hurricane,” said Botham S. Jean, a member of the L’Anse Road Church of Christ in the capital, Castries.
None of the church’s 250 members were injured, Jean said, nor were any of the 50 members of another congregation in Vieux Fort. The homes of three members sustained minor damage.
“However, our main plea at the moment is water,” Jean said. The hurricane damaged the island’s dam and electric pumps. Pipelines are contaminated with mud from the storm.
“The majority of the country has no access to treated water, and there has been major price gouging of potable drinking water,” Jean said.
Churches of Christ in St. Lucia are scheduled to host the 41st Caribbean Lectures in July. Allison Jean, a member of the L’Anse Road church and Botham Jean’s mother, said that the hurricane damage will not affect the lectures.
“Our major roads, rivers, water dam and water system — in addition to our agriculture and tourism industry — have all succumbed tremendously to the wrath of this hurricane,” said Botham S. Jean, a member of the L’Anse Road Church of Christ in the capital, Castries.
None of the church’s 250 members were injured, Jean said, nor were any of the 50 members of another congregation in Vieux Fort. The homes of three members sustained minor damage.
“However, our main plea at the moment is water,” Jean said. The hurricane damaged the island’s dam and electric pumps. Pipelines are contaminated with mud from the storm.
“The majority of the country has no access to treated water, and there has been major price gouging of potable drinking water,” Jean said.
Churches of Christ in St. Lucia are scheduled to host the 41st Caribbean Lectures in July. Allison Jean, a member of the L’Anse Road church and Botham Jean’s mother, said that the hurricane damage will not affect the lectures.
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