Guyana’s first shipment of emergency relief items arrived on Saturday in St. Vincent, while efforts continued to mobilise aid for the island following recent volcanic activity.
The vessel, ‘Miss Meena,” which has the capacity to carry approximately 350 tonnes, was loaded with food supplies, cleaning materials, personal protective gear, water tanks and water.
A second shipment was reported to be en route, while another was being prepared to set sail.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and other officials welcomed the first Guyana shipment, which docked at a wharf situated in the island’s capital city, Kingstown, yesterday morning.
Speaking to reporters, Gonsalves described the shipment as a “significant” one. “…You know, Guy-ana went through some difficult times… I used to always say in the days when things were [a] little more difficult in Guyana that Guyana would be the cornerstone in CARICOM… It is almost like biblical prophecy being fulfilled,” he said.
“I thank the Government of Guyana from the bottom of my heart and my friend President Irfaan Ali. He has a good heart and I want to say that with his renewed bond of friendship…… one cannot help but remember about the good Samarian,” he added.
Gonsalves said he is assured that St Vincent and the Grenadines will “build back strong”.
Dormant since 1979, the La Soufrière volcano started showing signs of activity in December last year, spewing steam and smoke and rumbling away. The first explosion was recorded at approximately 8.40 am on April 9th. For several days after that, continuous explosions and heavy ash fall was recorded.
As a result, thousands of persons including a number of Guyanese were displaced.
President Ali has pledged continuous support in the coming months to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. “This will be continuous support. What St Vincent is going through is not going to be a one-off event,” he said after the eruption.
Meanwhile, the Depart-ment of Public Information yesterday reported Guy-ana’s Honorary Consul to St. Vincent and the Grenadines Nigel Russel as also assuring Guyana’s continued support during the disaster.
“All the Guyanese who are living here are in solidarity because we are living here and we are going to do our best to ensure each other is well taken care of,” he was quoted as saying.
Russel also revealed that 27 Guyanese are making arrangements to return home.
Updated list
Since the volcano erupted, St. Vincent has receiv-ed relief support from a number of countries, including St. Lucia, Domi-nica, Venezuela and St. Kitts and Nevis.
On Saturday April10, Ali along with Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo convened an urgent meeting with members of the Civil Defence Com-mission (CDC) and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) to coordinate an emergency response to help St Vincent and the Grenadines.
In a press release yesterday, the Guyana Manufac-turing and Services Association Limited said that the team were able to accumulate approximately $20 million in cash and supplies.
The CDC yesterday published an updated lists of the items needed and the amounts.
In a previous list, CDC had said that the items requested are water tanks, folding cots, portable potties, blankets, field tents, field kitchens, sleeping mats, respirator masks, reflective vests, caution tape, hygiene kits, disinfectants, drinking water and disposable food containers.
Items such as wheelchairs, buckets, water pumps, generators and mattresses, which were not included in the previous list, were added to the updated one.
