Bowing to political pressure undermining the essence of the incumbent British government, Boris Johnson, the UK foreign secretary, is scheduled to fly to the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma, The Guardian reports.
According to a release from the Foreign Office, Johnson would spend “the coming days” in the Caribbean to see UK’s relief effort first-hand.
He is expected to visit two of the British dependent States of British Virgin Islands [BVI] and Anguilla, which were ravaged by Irma. Earlier On Monday, Kate Osamor, the shadow development secretary, urged Johnson or Theresa May to visit survivors on the islands, “look them in the eye and put their concerns at the centre of her government’s response plan,” she said.
Britons entrapped in the Caribbean have contrasted the French government’s quick response to Irma with that of the British government. French President Emmanuel Macron is due to visit the French territory of St Martin Island also battered by Hurricane Irma following Johnson’s visit.
Over 700 British troops and 50 police officers have been deployed to British Virgin Islands to aid the rescue and relief operations.
Johnson who defended the government’s response amidst criticism of government’s handling of the situation will meet with governors and other officials leading the recovery work, and will visit some of the worst affected areas. He said, “This is a very big consular crisis and I am confident we are doing everything we possibly can to help British nationals.”
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