BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, April 13, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. The Honourable Ralph Gonsalves has expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, the Government and the people of St. Kitts and Nevis for their solidarity and tangible support to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines during these most difficult times.
Afterbeing dormant for decades, the La Soufrière volcano in St. Vincent erupted on Friday, April 9, blanketing the island in ash and smoke and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people.
Movingquickly, the St. Kitts and Nevis National Disaster Mitigation Council convened a meeting that same day to discuss ways in which the Federation can mobilize support for the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Sincethen, Prime Minister Harris has announced a package of assistance to the Government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which includes financial assistance in the sum of EC $1 million to assist with the evacuation and resettling of citizens and residents from the danger zone; welcoming up to 300 evacuees to the shores of St. Kitts and Nevis; providing human resources through the Regional Security System (RSS) recruited from St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force and the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force to support humanitarian, technical and peace-keeping efforts on the ground in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and contributing US $20,000 towards the Special Emergency Assistance Fund of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) in order to bring immediate relief to St. Vincent and the Grenadines and support its logistical operations.
PrimeMinister Gonsalves has since utilised his social media platform to extend his appreciation for the “generous pledge of support during this very challenging situation facing us here in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.”
Vincentiansresiding here in St. Kitts and Nevis, including a cadre of officers serving in the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, have also reached out to the Office of the Prime Minister to express their gratitude to Prime Minister Harris and the Government.
TheNational Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is coordinating the national response to the Needs List provided by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The list includes cots, blankets, and peripheral water tanks.
