Emphasising the urgent need for counselling and other support services required for addressing the ‘post Ivan’ psychological trauma Grenadians are currently coping with, Acting Prime Minister Gregory Bowen welcomed Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) President Paul Thibault to Grenada on Friday, November 12. Mr. Thibault and a five-member delegation arrived at the Point Salines International Airport (PSIA) Friday morning and held discussions with Acting Prime Minister Bowen, Minister of Education and Labour Claris Charles, Minister of Social Development Yolande Bain Joseph and Minister of Health and the Environment Ann David Antoine, as well as officials from the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance and the Chairman of the Agency for Reconstruction and Development Sir Alistair McIntyre. Acting Prime Minister Bowen expressed appreciation for the $3.4 million (US) allocated to Grenada by CIDA to date, which is being used for agricultural resuscitation, institutional strengthening of NERO and support for local non-governmental organisations. Specific key areas addressed during the meeting, which took place at the PSIA VIP Lounge, included counselling services, reforestation, low income housing, employment creation, skills training and retraining and micro enterprise development with particular emphasis on women who head households, as well as construction of schools and multi purpose community health centres. Sir Alistair McIntyre noted the urgency for reforestation and watershed rebuilding, in addition to addressing the counselling needs and the provision for skills training for school leavers. Overall damages are estimated at $900 million (US), with a sectoral breakdown as follows: Housing $520 million (US), Tourism $150 million (US), Education: $72.6 million (US), Agriculture $37 million (US). Mr. Thibault, who gave the assurance that he would share all the information with Canadian Government officials, said it is a pleasure being in Grenada “but also a bit of an emotional experience,” having held discussions with Prime Minister Keith Mitchell in Tortola on Thursday who explained the many difficulties and challenges Grenadians now face. Following the meeting Mr. Thibault and his delegation toured Grenada to see firsthand the extent of the damages and the progress in rebuilding since Hurricane Ivan struck Grenada on September 7. SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER