After four days of talks behind closed doors, the State of San Andreas and the Government of Coral Island have agreed a deal that will see the island help rebuild Los Santos.
Governor Diane Carrow announced the agreement on Thursday afternoon, calling it "the first real good news this city has had since the ground moved." Coral Island's Office of the President confirmed the deal within the hour.
President Lucy Alvarez said Coral Island was happy to step in. "We were never going to stand back and watch," she told Weazel News, in a statement published in full below.
What Coral Island is sending
Under the agreement, Coral Island will send engineering crews and heavy machinery to the mainland, starting with the freeway and the port. Cargo ships will run between Puerto Coral and the Port of Los Santos once the docks are cleared, carrying stone, steel and fuel.
Puerto Coral's deep-water harbour will also open to San Andreas supply ships, giving the State a second route for materials while the roads into the city stay closed.
President Alvarez's statement to Weazel News
"When the ground shook in Los Santos, Coral Island felt it too. Many of our families have relatives on the mainland, and many of yours have spent their summers on our beaches. We were never going to stand back and watch.
"Today I am proud to confirm that Coral Island will help rebuild Los Santos. Our engineers and construction crews will start with the freeway and the port, because a city cannot heal if nobody can reach it. Our cargo ships will carry stone, steel and fuel from Puerto Coral, and our harbour is open to every San Andreas supply ship that needs it.
"I want to thank Governor Carrow and her team for four long days of honest talks. We did not agree on everything at first, but we agreed on what matters most: the people of Los Santos come first.
"I also welcome the State's recognition of Coral Island's waters, including Antigua. Good neighbours respect each other's borders, and that respect is what makes this kind of help possible. Our Defence Force will keep our waters safe, and anyone crossing them will still need clearance.
"To the people of Los Santos: you are not rebuilding alone. Coral Island stands with you, today and for as long as it takes."
Statement provided to Weazel News by the Office of President Lucy Alvarez, Puerto Coral.
What the State gives in return
In return, the State recognises Coral Island's waters, which now take in the island of Antigua to the west. San Andreas aircraft and boats will still need clearance to enter, as with any crossing into Coral territory.
Officials would not say whether money has changed hands. A spokesperson for the Governor's office said the terms "will be published in full once both sides have signed."
Not everyone is celebrating
Some business owners in Paleto Bay, which has taken in much of the trade that left Los Santos, questioned how fast the city can really come back. "Ships are good. Crews are good. But a city is not a freeway," one bar owner told Weazel News.
Engineers have warned that Los Santos could take at least a year to rebuild. The Governor's office has not said whether the deal changes that estimate.
