Britain is diverting the Royal Navy’s flagship to the Caribbean along with a task group of hundreds of troops and engineers and helicopters after fierce criticism of its lack of preparations for Hurricane Irma’s trail of devastation across a string of British overseas territories. Criticism has been mounting of the British response to the disaster in territories from Anguilla to the British Virgin Islands, including unflattering comparisons with preparations undertaken by the Dutch and French in their neighbouring territories. Britain is mandated with overseeing disaster preparations and relief for its overseas territories. Yet 48 hours after the storm hit the first British territory of Anguilla, no help had arrived, despite the presence of a British naval vessel in the area. The helicopter carrier HMS Ocean is being diverted from the Mediterranean and will take around a week to arrive EPADorothea Hodge, the former EU…

Source: The Times September 07, 2017 16:04 UTC