(Trinidad Guardian) Members of T&T Defence Force sail to St Vincent today on the Galleons Passage vessel to carry supplies and assist the eruption-ravaged island– and the vessel will also bring home T&T nationals who are in St Vincent.
This was confirmed by National Security Minister Stuart Young yesterday.
Foreign Affairs Minister Amery Browne also received a letter yesterday from Finance Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines Camillo Gonsalves giving a status report of the situation and what they needed following last Friday’s explosive eruption of the Soufriere volcano.
Billowing plumes of ash covered St Vincent– currently awash with it– also swamping Barbados, 118 miles east. The volcano has continued pulsing.
Young stated, “We will be deploying 50 officers of the T&T Defence Force to St Vincent and the Grenadines tomorrow. This contingent comprises of personnel from Engineers, Infantry/Provost, Medical and Logistics. They will be stationed in St Vincent and the Grenadines for two weeks in the first instance.”
“The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), and the Ministry of National Security, has been coordinating efforts to collect supplies. These will be sent to St Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday and Wednesday. In the first instance, supplies comprise of water, food essentials, toiletries, hygiene materials, simple medical supplies and other items requested, for example, water tanks and buckets.”
The Galleons Passage will carry troops and supplies to SVG today.
Young added: “We will seek to repatriate T&T nationals from St Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday using the vessel and are currently making such arrangements along with the Foreign and Caricom Affairs Ministry. All nationals returning will be quarantined and treated in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 protocols.”
People wishing to donate items to St Vincent and the Grenadines should contact the ODPM or drop off items at the various collection points identified by ODPM.
“Government will continue to provide support and assistance requested and required by St Vincent and the Grenadines. Our prayers and thoughts continue to be with St Vincent and the Grenadines—we assure our brothers and sisters there, we stand in solidarity with them during their period of challenge.”
Browne said St Vincent’s water catchment areas are affected by ash and dust and he received an urgent request last Saturday for drinking water.
Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon has been mobilising bottled water apart from what’s being sent over.
Browne said he’s in constant communication with the Vincentian Minister of State responsible for Foreign Affairs who’s sharing real time information on the island’s needs.
