In support of the Government’s initiatives to assist the countries of St. Lucia and St. Vincent, which were hardest hit by the passage of Hurricane Tomas, the Dominica Agricultural Industrial and Development Bank [AID Bank] has spearheaded a number of efforts in arranging critical hurricane relief supplies to these two countries.
The Government of Dominica, immediately after the Hurricane hit, arranged for supplies of water to be shipped to St. Lucia.
The country’s Coast Guard made several trips to the island, with its water cargo. In addition, a barge was dispatched to the island with several thousand cartons of water compliments of the Government of Dominica.
Two containers of bottled water left Dominica on Thursday November 11 bound for St. Lucia, where there is a critical shortage of water for drinking purposes.
The National Bank of Dominica, the St. Kitts and Nevis Development Bank, the Antigua and Barbuda Development Bank and the Dominica Brewery and Beverages Limited, the producers of Loubiere Natural Caribbean Spring Water, made significant contributions to this effort, which was co-ordinated by the AID Bank.
The St. Lucia Development Bank, the institution which initiated this request to the AID Bank, will undertake the distribution of the water in collaboration with the National Emergency Organization (NEMO) of St. Lucia.
Another container with 25 tonnes of coils for the manufacture of galvanised roofing sheets capable of producing 1,750 galvanise sheets, also left Dominica last Thursday for St. Vincent. St. Vincent experienced severe damage to houses as a result of Hurricane Tomas.
The Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica and the AID Bank collaborated in the purchase of the coils from M & J Roofing of One Mile Portsmouth, extruders of roofing material in Dominica.
Extruding plants in St. Vincent will convert the coils into galvanized sheets which will be distributed to affected households by the Government of St. Vincent’s Housing and Land Agency.
Prime Minister, the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, who visited St Vincent during last week commenting on these efforts, commended the contributions as being a clear and unequivocal demonstration of the high level of co-operation among the members of the OECS states stating that “While Dominica is not a country endowed with cash or vast resources compared with others, these efforts at providing assistance to our fellow states in times of need with that which the Almighty has blessed us – such as water, points unequivocally to our commitment to the Regional movement.”
He stated further that the Prime Ministers of both countries expressed to him their sincerest gratitude to those entities, which arranged the contributions of these essential and much needed supplies for their citizens and requested him to convey their highest regard and respect to the citizens of Dominica.
Truly One Love,
Well said.
@One Love:
Your comments are typical of one who has a warped and twisted mind.
1. You are confusing a company’s corporate responsibility to the society – and here I include our
fellow citizens in the OECS – and its core function. Both can be done simultaneously without
adversely affecting the institution performing its mandate.
2. The Bank has made remarkable strides in recent years – lending record amounts to
entrepreneurs in Dominica. And yes, this was done I believe with employees of the
Bank not only at their desks but out in the field ‘processing’ loans.
3. If your position was the accepted approach, how would you feel if a disaster struck our
country and no external assistance was provided us?
4. And, yes charity does begin at home. But you obviously have not kept up to date on the
contributions and donations of the Bank to worthy causes in our country.
5. And yes, there is nothing wrong with the Bank trying to collect monies owed to it by individuals
and companies who can pay and DO NOT PAY.
6. Your ignorange is further exposed by your false assumption that the Bank is sitting on millions.
Please check the Bank’s web site which I have and see how many millions they are sitting on.
I understand that the Government is actively trying to raise money to provide funding for the
Bank to provide loans to projects aimed at developing the economy.
7. You are obviously aware of the cost of water but not of the cost of roofing material. For your
own edification [which may just be wishful thinking – you appear to be beyond help] check the
Internet for the price of roofing material.
8. The substantial portion of the cost of the roofing material as the release states was borne by the
Government. Therefore no effect on interest rates. In fact in recent times, the Bank – and I am a
Borrower from the Bank – has been reducing its interest rates.
Your comments can best be described as diatribe and has no relevance in an interdependent
world.
Can I suggest that you change your blog name to ‘ONLY HATE’ which is all that has spewed from your pen – make that keyboard.
Get a Life!
One Love – Truly
One Love,
Enjoy your holiday!
@incognito: you seem stupid!!! does this mean the the bobols did not take place? your comments cannot cheapen the facts!!!
AND OF COURSE ITS A GOOD MOVE – WE ALL HAVE TO HELP EACH OTHER
You see the problem with dominica right there ; THATS “RED CROSS” WORK. . . these people should be at their desks processing our loan applications . . . figuring ways to bring down interest rates . how to make the millions they are sitting on available to bawling Dominicans for study business medical farming etc instead of posing for pictures . . .
I ask HOW MANY DOMINICANS did you disappoint that same day by NOT APPROVING THEIR LOANS? HOW MANY DID YOU THROW IN COURT OR SEIZE THEIR HARD EARNED ASSETS? HOW MANY FAMILIES DID YOU DRIVE TO THE WILDERNESS OF POVERTY FRUSTRATION BANKRUPTCY WITHOUT A CARE OR A THOUGHT?
COULD SOME OF THIS SELF-SERVING GENEROUSITY BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE POOR STARVING NAKED DOMINCANS PLEASE? DOES “CHARITY” BEGIN AT HOME??
AS THE PRIME DISASTER AND DESTRUCTIVE CABINET RAVAGES DOMINICA WITH HURRICANE FORCE INCOMPETENCE CORRUPTION AND GREED THE PEOPLE ARE WORSE OFF THAN ST.LUCIA, ST.VINCENT, ETC
—and by the way – HOW MUCH DOES 25 TONS OF ROOFING MATERIAL COST? WILL INTEREST RATES GO UP TO RECOVER THE COST ???
THESE COUNTRIES ARE ON THE WAY TO COMPLETE RECOVERY AND WILL SOON PASS US AGAIN
ITS GETS WORSE BY THE MINUTE . . . YOU OUT THERE IN THE DIASPORA PLEASE PRAY FOR DOMINICA
@PAIN: Obviously u misunderstood my post. What I am saying, in a sarcastic way, is that there are going to be few comments to positive stories like this. As another person said if this was a Water Bobol there would be no space for comments. But just look at the few posts here. That is what I was saying.
And yes, thanks to the few brave souls who decided to post comments on this positive story.
@Chief:
Blessings to all the contributors! keep up the good works.
Chief, Shame on you, nothing good to say to about the story!
i guess P.M KARMA OR KAMARA OR CAMERA whatever it is,,,,is still in negotiation with her cabinet n the opposition lol!!!!!! the O.E.C.S can do good by ourselves!!!!!!
Yes I ! when it’s something positive and good D/cans have very little to say. I’m sure if it was a water bobol there would not be enough space for the comments.
Go on with allu bad self d/cans, go on.
Now how come they never ask; What’s in it for me? CARICOM/CARICRAP will never achieve what the OECS has, which is, togetherness, equality, community-spirit, empathy and One-Love. Long live the OECS family, we are one.
Yes we care!!! A caring government at work both within and out of Dominica’s shores.
ONLY THE BLIND AND FOOLS WITH BLUE AND GREEN LASSY IN THEIR EYES ARE THE ONES WHO CANNOT SEE!!!!!!!!
thanks! Hope many like you come forward!
Interesting!
I think I should be able to count on one hand the amount of comments that are going to come with this story. lol
This is so encouraging. Job well done. Some form of gratis assistance program should been initiated by the PM of Trinidad. Not that heartless, selfish posturing stance that she took. We heard of her apology… but he statement really infuriated affected islands.
Great job