CARICOM officials convene for emergency meeting on St. Vincent and the Grenadines
UPDATED (4/16/2021)— In a bid to address the catastrophic situation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, top leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) held a special emergency Thursday afternoon.
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago, who is also the current chair of the organization, led the meeting to discuss the next response on the ongoing eruption of La Soufriere volcano, according to CARICOM’s official statement.
La Soufriere had a series of explosive eruptions last Friday, spewing volcanic ash across the island and its neighbors, and releasing deadly pyroclastic flows – hot (200°C-700°C), ground-hugging flows of ash and debris.
On Wednesday, the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has monitored another explosion from the volcano.
Extending Help To Vincentians
Relief efforts have been pouring in to Vincentians since the volcano’s eruption last week.
The Good Samaritan act of a couple of individuals who supplied over 900 pounds of fish to evacuees were acknowledged in the NEMO St. Vincent’s Facebook page.
In a Jamaica Star report, the US Embassy has extended its assistance to American citizens who are in the island. The embassy is coordinating with the Royal Carribean Cruise, who has offered its ‘transit opportunity’ to Dutch Sint Maarten.
US citizens are requested to register online. Deadline of registration is Thursday, April 15 at 12:00 noon.
However, there are several travel restrictions, “including no children under the age of six months; no pregnant women over 23 weeks of gestation; no individuals requiring dialysis; no individuals with terminal conditions; no individuals who have been identified as close contacts of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case; and no pets.”
Regional neighbors like Dominica and British Virgin Islands have also offered their islands to accommodate Vincentian evacuees.
Donors from the United States are encouraged to either contact the Consulate of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in New York, any CARICOM Consulate Office, or the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Embassy in Washington, DC.
Relief goods such as bottled water, non-perishable food items, folding cots, blankets, sleeping mats, 5-gallon buckets, hygiene kits, water tanks (800×1000 gallons), and toiletries are highly encouraged.
For monetary assistance, the government of St. Vincent has shared the bank details for its disaster relief fund.
The U.S. Caribbean Strong, a network which has been leading relief efforts since Hurrican Maria in 2017, has been spearheading volunteers who are needed to assist with sorting, packing, pickup and delivery of donationas. Anyone interested in volunteering can sign up. For Volcano Relief Drop Off Locations, donors can visit: http://www.sflcaribbeanstrong.org/.