Many have hit out of the government's response to Hurricane irma

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Many on the island accused Theresa May of not offering enough support to Britons in the Caribbean, with Britain’s “pathetic” response compared to that of France’s for St Barts, St Martin and Guadeloupe. France had troops on the ground before the storm hit, and President Macron has committed to an emergency fund and reconstruction plan to deal wth the aftermath of Irma. Josephine Gumbs-Conner, a lawyer from the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I’m am truly disappointed. If we are indeed supposed to be in a partnership then it should work far more effectively than it is doing now.” Hurricane Irma, now the most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricane in recorded history, hit the Caribbean yesterday killing 10 and causing major damage compared to the aftermath of a “nuclear bomb”.

Anguilla is utterly devastated Josephine Gumbs-Conner

Ms Gumbs-Conner added: “Anguilla is utterly devastated. “When you look at our island at the moment you would think that it just suffered nuclear bomb devastation. We are in such a compromised position at the moment. “This kind of devastation is so significant and so widespread that to be able to put us back and make us whole again, with help it could happen perhaps in about six months.”

Dorothea Hodge, a former UK EU representative for the government of Anguilla, slammed the UK’s slow reaction, after International Development Secretary Priti Patel announced the deployment of three UK humanitarian experts and a British naval ship yesterday. She told the Guardian: “It’s absolutely disgraceful that it has taken the whole day for Priti Patel to respond to the worst hurricane we have seen in a British territory since the 1920s. “What is needed now is a commitment to an immediate effective humanitarian, response, food, water, shelter, emergency health care, and a long-term reconstruction fund to get the island back on its feet after this battering.”

Tropical Anguilla is a British Overseas Terrority

She added: “Her response after the storm has passed is absolutely pathetic.” Foreign secretary Boris Johnson spoke with the chief minister of Anguilla on Wednesday evening and said the Foreign Office was in constant contact with British overseas territories. He said: “This is going to be a very big storm and we have [the landing ship] RFA Mounts Bay full of humanitarian relief supplies on standby and we will be doing everything we can to help those afflicted.” Green party co-leader and MP, Caroline Lucas, has added to calls for the UK government to do more.

Hurricane Irma: Latest maps Mon, September 11, 2017 Bringing you the latest Hurricane Irma maps, updated daily Play slideshow National Hurricane Center 1 of 60 Rainfall potential for the United States

In a statement issued this morning she said: “Britain should be doing more to assist those affected by the utter devastation in the Caribbean. As part of such efforts, and if desired by the governments in the region, we should be using our armed forces to help with reconstruction and emergency assistance in the British Overseas Territories that have been hit. "The UK has a highly skilled military that could be having a real impact here - and the truth is that they should already be helping out as the French are.” The Prime Minister sent a message to those affected on Twitter today, writing: “Thoughts with everybody dealing with terrible impact of Irma.”

Anguilla has been battered by Hurricane Irma