Dominica ready to accommodate volcano-affected evacuees from St. Vincent says PM Skerrit

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has announced that Dominica is ready to accommodate evacuees from St. Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) affected by the La Soufriere Volcano.

Yesterday April 8th, Prime Minister of SVG, Ralph Gonsalves issued an evacuation order for people residing in areas around in the red zone around the La Soufriere volcano in SVG.

Gonsalves made his decision on advice given to him by the director of The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO).

The UWI-Seismic Research Centre scientific team based at the Belmont Observatory in St. Vincent had recorded six separate bands of volcanic tremor throughout the day, a new type of seismic event which had not yet been observed since the beginning of the eruption in December 2020.

According to the UWI Research Centre, this type of seismic signal is usually associated with movement of magma and fluids close to the surface. Ash venting was also observed during the most recent tremor episode.

And this morning Friday, April 9, an explosive eruption began at the La Soufrière volcano.

The UWI Seismic Research Centre said the eruption which began at 8:41 this morning, April 9, is a culmination of the seismic activity that began on April 8.

The seismic centre’s report indicates that ash has begun to fall on the flanks of the volcano and surrounding communities including Chateaubelair and Petite Bordel.

It said some of the ash has gone offshore and has even reached the team’s Observatory at Belmont.

“In Dominica’s case, we met last night as a cabinet to discuss our acceptance and to start the preparation to receive evacuees from SVG,” Prime Minister Skerrit said. “Today we will confirm the number of people that we will accommodate; certainly Dominica will be accommodating some people.”

He has identified the Moroccan Hotel, as well as several other private properties in Portsmouth, to house residents of SVG.

“I believe we have a duty and obligation to extend empathy to the people of St Vincent,” he stated.

It is said these residents would have to be evacuated for up to 4 to 5 months.

The Prime Minister said that during a discussion with Gonsalves last night, it was disclosed to him that around 20,000 have to be evacuated and an estimated 12,000 or so will be accommodated in shelters in St Vincent.

Furthermore he said the remaining 7,000 people will be accommodated outside of SVG.

“What we are doing, between last night and today, we are coordinating with member states of the OECS and CARICOM to see how many evacuees each country can accommodate from St Vincent,” Prime Minister Skerrit indicated.

He said it is a very difficult situation for the government and the people of SVG, “and it calls for all of us to extend our solidarity, our love, our empathy and love for the people of St Vincent & the Grenadines.”

“This is coming at a very difficult time with Covid-19, but this is a natural disaster and we have to respond with the love and solidarity that are required,” he remarked.

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17 Comments

  1. Lin clown
    April 11, 2021

    Jah Karl and,how many are living in apartments fit for KINGS?Lazy,lying hypocrites.One of the BLIND BLUE BUGS.

  2. Lin clown
    April 11, 2021

    We do not need Vincentians to WIN elections.With coonu like Evil one,Viewsexpressed Ibo France and % DLP will win every election.When I lived in the USA I made a donation to the Haitian earthquake relief fund through T-MOBILE.The Dominica utility companies Should as customers to pay an additional $5.00 on their utility bill.That money would go to St,Vincent.Enough of that BS from UWP and AHOLES like The Evil one.

  3. Lin Clown
    April 11, 2021

    The Evil one,Skerrit does not need Vincentians to KICK your A next election,Coonu.The utility companies should ask customers to PAY an extra $5.00 on their bills.This extra $5.00 will go to help our brothers and sisters in St.Vincent.When I lived in America we did it for the quake victims in Haiti.I made a contribution through T-MOBILE.Hope DNO will post this comment.

  4. Point of View
    April 10, 2021

    @man bites dogs, what does the PM have in place when he said on a news conference that they are waiting to finalize things for the evacuation of people. Clearly, the government is not ready to accommodate the people of St. Vincent. had the people of St. Vincent arrived in Dominica last night would Dominica be ready to accept them. As Dominican, we need to stop being one-sided and see things for what they are. How is the government ready?

  5. Hon. Hyenas
    April 10, 2021

    Skerrit had a reputation of using disasters for his personal gain. So in as much as I support the people of St. Vincent, I am pretty sure that Skerrit as done his homework to see what is in it for him. I pray for the people of St. Vincent and hope that threat they are under will go away speedily and everyone will be safe

  6. Jonathan Y St Jean
    April 10, 2021

    Skerritt has a duty and an obligation to assist displaced people from St Vincent, however the farmers of Salisbury were not a priority for him. As Prime minister of Dominca his duty and obligation is to Dominicans first and foremost. I’m happy that Dominican taxpayers money is going to be spent to assist our brothers and sisters from St Vincent but the hypocrisy just bothers me. I hope that those who find refuge in Dominica will find compassion, love and will have happy experience. May God bless their country in it’s time of travail.

  7. VereTere
    April 10, 2021

    I’m not even prepared to listen to this madman anymore. Did anyone ask for his help? There we go. Propaganda pure! Desperate to polish up his gangster image at every occasion. Give as fair elections, give us audited accounts for the CBI program show us the MOU with China! Skerrit, here is a chance to improve your image once and for all. Come on, if you have nothing to hide… it’s easy!!!!

    • Macake
      April 16, 2021

      Maybe he is hoping to sell one or two of them Dominican passports at discounted prices. Our PM for sure is a passport sales professional. We just need to watch out that the proceeds are properly accounted for. Our country is full of gangsters nowadays!

  8. Dominican with Grenadine Roots
    April 9, 2021

    All Caribbean Islands should show empathy towards the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines affected by the erupting La Soufriere Volcano. Dominica is doing exactly what any other country would do by offering the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines, temporary shelter in their time of need.

    I am therefore echoing the request of the Prime Minister and Government of Dominica and request that Dominica who are so able to open their doors and welcome our brothers and sisters from St Vincent and Grenadines if needs be.

    I remember after passage of both TS Ericka and Cat. 5 H Maria the Government and People of St Vincent and the Grenadines reached out very generously… Let’s return the favour because we can.

  9. JAH KAL
    April 9, 2021

    Skerrit thanks for helping the st vincent people. U said in your statement its hard for them to live in a shelter for four to five months but six years after the hurricane you have Dominicans still living under tapolin man u real piece off sheet mettle . But thats good for them, bunch of u no what.

  10. R A Mitchell
    April 9, 2021

    Well done Mr Skerrit

  11. The EVil one
    April 9, 2021

    More than accomodation, I bet Skerrit will hope they stay in Dominica until next election so he could put them in marginal constituencies and constituencies that a UWP strongholds, especially with the treating CCJ ruling that will definitely make it more difficult for Skerrit to bring people down to vote

    • %
      April 10, 2021

      Typical Skerrit. Trickery, deceipt and deception!
      Reasons why the country is as it is.

  12. click here
    April 9, 2021

    Why not let apartment owners in possie be allowed to adequately house these people? They have loans to pay still.

  13. Watching
    April 9, 2021

    But the people should be on their way already.. last minute planning..so the people with covid I hope they have them under control

    • Man bites dogs
      April 9, 2021

      @Watching,thanks for your scientific based on your principle of science, your question is yes, our government has everything in place this is not a Lennox Linton, monkey business.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      April 9, 2021

      Roosevelt is the one talking BS about accommodating people from St. Vincent; we should find out if Ralph asks Roosevelt for his help.

      You see last night I saw an evacuation in St. Vincent; they were heading by boat to the Leeward side of the Island; I listened to the direction given by officials, I did not hear at anytime people were told they are heading to Dominica.

      And why not St. Lucia, which is nearer to St. Vincent than Dominica; we often here of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; which are small islands govern by the St. Vincent central government; the people who may have to leave the main island can assimilate on those islands.

      Grenada very close to St. Vincent too.
      Roosevelt just want to be in things; always pushing his head where it does not belong!

      Even if St. Vincent is on fire the people of St. Vincent are yet better off than Roosevelt Dominica.

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