Premier Attends Emergency Caricom Meeting
Heads of Government from Caricom nations — including Premier David Burt – held a special virtual emergency meeting to discuss the situation in St Vincent and the Grenadines caused by the volcanic eruptions.
A statement from Caricom said, “Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community [Caricom] met in Special Emergency session on Thursday 15 April to discuss the situation in St Vincent and the Grenadines caused by the on-going volcanic eruptions of La Soufriere.
Screenshot of the virtual meeting, Premier David Burt is shown on the lower right hand corner:
“They committed to continue providing extensive support to St Vincent and the Grenadines and pledged solidarity with that Member State as it strives to cope with the disaster. The volcano erupted on Friday 9 April and has been spewing ash and emitting pyroclastic flows.
“The Meeting was presided over by the Chair of the Conference of Heads of Government Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines briefed his colleague Leaders on the situation at the meeting which was held virtually. The meeting also received information from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency [CDEMA] which is coordinating the regional response to the event.
“Heads of Government were informed that the situation would be prolonged given the level of uncertainty in respect of the behaviour of the volcano.
“Prime Minister Gonsalves reported that more than 10,000 people had been evacuated from the immediate disaster area covering approximately one third of the island. They are being housed in shelters and at homes of family and friends. Accommodation for evacuees is also being arranged by neighbouring States.
“The ash and the pyroclastic flows have decimated crops and vegetation and compromised water sources. Food and water were identified as among the primary needs.
“Member States indicated the level of support that had already been delivered and committed to providing further financial, technical and material support, in particular food and water. Security assistance is also being provided.
“The Honourable Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados alerted the meeting to the effects of the unprecedented heavy ashfall across that island which has resulted in major disruptions to the infrastructure including the closure of the Grantley Adams International Airport with an adverse effect on the tourism sector and the wider economy. Heads of Government pledged their support and solidarity with Barbados in treating with this significant challenge.
“Prime Minister Gonsalves thanked his colleague Heads of Government and the Regional Institutions for their overwhelming support. He praised the work of the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre [SRC] which has been monitoring the volcano and expressed his deep appreciation for the efforts of CDEMA, the Regional Security System [RSS], the Caribbean Public Health Agency [CARPHA] and the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security [IMPACS] in assisting the country.”
A video report from the UK media Channel 4:
Caricom is an organisation of nations and territories throughout the Caribbean and Atlantic region, and Bermuda is an associate member.
The Government has previously announced that Bermuda will commit $50,000 to assist St. Vincent, with the Government saying that we have a “moral imperative to play our part in the regional and international effort to help.”
Pay attention to your own nation PB! You are always looking elsewhere and not at what you were hired to do! Worst Premier in Bermudas History!
The Entire World should come to their aid because they never know when it will be their hour of disaster, Prayers and sincere thoughts go out to the people of St. Vincent and he neighboring Islands that suffered from all of the Ash, which has caused a serious health related crisis to all in it’s path.
Absolutely right, too bad we cannot afford to help ourselves also.
Absolutely right, too bad we cannot afford to help ourselves also.
With our Premier hurrying off to a CARICOM meeting, it would be great for Bermuda to bring in a few hundred of the St. Vincentians.
O.B.A. brought in their own “under a cloak of secrecy”. The P.L.P. government, bring in some of our own too!! Balance, that is what will make this world revolve much better.
And there you have it. Pure racism.
And which ones did the OBA bring in specifically you troll! It’s just incredible how ignorant you people really are!
Perhaps a better solution would be for you to go down there and sit on the volcano. By the way any St. Vincentians are welcome for 5 years if they spend $2.5M.