Grenada's prime minister has said that Hurricane Ivan could provide the impetus for the region to move toward deeper economic and political integration. Prime Minister Keith Mitchell told BBC Caribbean Radio that the cooperation among the region's leaders in helping Grenada in the aftermath of Ivan illustrates what could be done if the Caribbean was more united. "These little islands existing all over the place trying to run independent institutions by themselves will not work, and Ivan might be trying to tell us it is time to recognise that we need to go further than what we have with the West Indies cricket team, the University of the West Indies, CDERA and other organisations that have been operating in a limited capacity and to go further and deeper into economic and political union." "So if Ivan has sent a good message from that standpoint and it has got us to get up and move forward in that direction, maybe there's a good thing coming out of what Ivan has done to us," Prime Minister Mitchell said. Last week, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) agreed on a series of initiatives aimed at bringing Grenada back on track. These include establishing a pool of resources to help the country to meet its financial obligations for the next three months, meeting Grenada's contribution to regional organisations like the University of the West Indies and approaching the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to pool Caricom guarantees to float a bond issue. Mr Mitchell also addressed the consensus that is emerging between the government and the opposition in the reconstruction process. Consensus He said there will be differences between the parties, but those will be put aside for the good of the country. "We should recognise now is the time for working together and building our country and we can do so by serious cooperation at many levels," he said. "I have not and I will never reject this. This is our position and we have indicated this to the opposition and we hope in the final analysis, we will work out a formula for this." However, he stressed that consensus does not mean there will be any political accomodation between the government and the opposition. The Grenadian leader put the damage from Hurricane Ivan at approximately $600 million, which includes the losses from the tourism and agricultural sectors and the loss of property suffered by Grenadians. He said while he was pleased with the response Grenada was getting from regional and international governments for aid, he wants Grenadians to help themselves and not depend on handouts. "I don't expect the international and regional community to find all the money to help Grenada," he said. "In fact, I think it won't be a wise thing for everybody outside to help Grenada, Grenada has to help itself. "People have recognised that we will be helping ourselves. We have committed ourselves and we have seen it already. The amount of homes that have had roofs put back already with the mobilisation of the people in all communities around the country in two weeks is a very heartening experience and this is the kind of thing that should be seen or heard outside." Mr Mitchell said a special committee; the National Reconstruction Committee comprised mainly of technocrats will be formed to oversee the country's reconstruction. When asked about the situation on the islands of Carriacou and Petit Martinique, Mr Mitchell told BBC Caribbean Radio that the islands - which did not suffer the same level of devastation as Grenada -are also engaged in the reconstruction process. "A team of people from Petit Martinique and Carriacou have formed a working brigade and they are expected to come to the mainland," he said. "In fact my friends in Carriacou recognised that the Prime Minister needs food and clothes as I lost all my clothes and they have sent down some food and I've shared it with a lot of my friends. "People are saying that Grenada has forgotten Carriacou, but it's one country and Carriacou has not forgotten Grenada and we are working together as one people." SOURCE:BBCCARIBBEAN.COM