Guyana pledged to support St Vincent as the country recovered
Kaieteur News – The Government of Guyana is committed to fully assisting the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines not only in this immediate period but also in the medium and long term as the La Soufriere volcano eruption affects the Caribbean island.
This was announced by President Irfaan Ali as he spoke at the 14th Special Emergency Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government yesterday. Also in attendance were the First Minister, Mark Phillips; the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd; Ambassador Elizabeth Harper; Permanent Secretary, Marcia Nadir-Sharma; Cabinet Secretary (s) and Ambassador George Talbot, Director American Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
President Ali told the meeting that a ship had already left Guyana’s shores with 350 tonnes of various necessary materials including water, water storage containers, rice, sugar, peas, chowmein, sanitisers, detergents, disinfectant, personal care items and baby supplies .
According to the President, the ship is expected to reach St. Vincent tomorrow, while a 20-foot water container left the country yesterday on a Tropical Shipping ship. On Monday, another shipment will be prepared for departure carrying water, sugar, rice, miscellaneous food items and personal care and hygiene items. Due to the impact of the La Soufriere volcano eruption, the island of Barbados is also affected and in response to an appeal by Prime Minister Mia Mottley, the President will also send 50 water tanks to that island.
The President informed the meeting that, since the impending volcano crisis, his Government had been receiving tremendous support from the private sector, which had deployed financial resources to those affected in the islands.