Leaders and citizens around the region are standing in solidarity with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as the country continues to deal with explosive eruptions at its La Soufriere volcano.
On Thursday, thousands were evacuated to cruise ships and other parts of the island when Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves declared a red alert after seismologists warned that eruption was imminent due to increased seismic activity. Evacuations continued on Friday made more urgent by the commencement of the explosive eruptions that morning.
Even before the eruptions, which occurred at about 8:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., a number of islands had already pledged their assistance to St. Vincent by committing to housing evacuees if necessary. One such island was Saint Lucia, which is located just north of St Vincent.
Prime Minister Allen Chastanet said in a press conference on Friday that St. Lucia is preparing to initially receive 300 evacuees who will be placed in accommodations after receiving negative Covid-19 test results. They will be required to adhere to 14 days quarantine.
“So we are setting up a structure on Monday for any Saint Lucians that want to accommodate a Vincentian family,” Chastanet noted. He said that special criteria are being established for housing evacuees.
“So once your home meets that criteria, then you would qualify,” Chastanet stated.
“We do have hotels that remain unaccommodated at this point. We are using those as a backup. We are hoping that we can work with the cruise lines to allow the ship to remain in port for a couple of days,” he also stated.
Among those whom Saint Lucia plans to assist are one hundred and thirty-six (136) OECS citizens, who are part of the seasonal agricultural workers’ programme, as they were stranded in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as a result of the eruption of the La Soufriere Volcano.
The agricultural workers, 95 Vincentians, 18 Saint Lucians and 23 Grenadians, were en route to Canada for employment on the seasonal agricultural workers’ programme when their flight from St. Vincent to Canada was cancelled. The workers arrived via Cruise Ship “Serenade of the Seas” on Saturday morning and will remain in Saint Lucia for a few days until they can board a flight to Canada.
The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), the Ministry of Health, The St. Lucia Air and Seaports Authority (SLASPA), the Ministry of Tourism, the Department of Labour and all other relevant agencies are assisting in the coordination of this effort and ensuring all the necessary public health protocols are followed.
St. Lucians, especially those with respiratory conditions in the south of the island have been warned to monitor their air quality and exercise caution as ash from the eruptions is likely to land on that part of the island. Shelters have been identified for residents who may need to move.
Members of the Barbados Coast Guard made their way to St Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday night as part of the humanitarian disaster response to the La Soufriere volcano eruption.
The crew of 40 departed on board the HMBS RUDYARD LEWIS and HMBS LEONARD C BANFIELD to transport seven tonnes of supplies donated by the UNICEF Eastern Caribbean.
Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and all Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states have also mobilized to support St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a CARICOM press release said.
Member states have all offered support to house evacuees from the affected area. The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) has activated its regional support operation including the deployment of technical assistance to St Vincent and the Grenadines. The agency is providing technical assistance to St Vincent’s National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) with evacuation and logistics planning, the release said.
CEDEMA has been working alongside the St Vincent’s NEMO, the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Center and the Regional Security System (RSS).
“The Community stands with the government and people of St Vincent and the Grenadines in this perilous situation,” CARICOM said.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced that Dominica would provide accommodation for a fraction of the 7,000 evacuees expected to come from St Vincent. He identified the Moroccan Hotel, as well as several other private properties in Portsmouth, to house residents of St. Vincent.
“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,” Skerrit remarked.
On Friday, Antigua’s government said that it was “tidying up arrangements” to take in evacuees with the Nation Office of Disaster Services carrying out its final inspections on accommodations to be used for the migrants.
Grenada has pledged to accept evacuees but out of caution, its police department has asked residents to be vigilant about activities on the country’s coasts since the humanitarian gesture extended by Grenada could be used to the advantage of individuals wishing to conduct illegal activities such as drug smuggling.
“We are in a state of high alert with respect to persons coming. We will want to know all who come to Grenada; who they are, what are their identities, where they are coming from, so we can do our background checks,” Michael Francois, Deputy Commissioner of Police in Grenada said.
Meanwhile, scores of well-wishers to include businesses are sending out prayers and words of encouragement and comfort in solidarity with St Vincent and the Grenadines through regional media.
British Virgin Islands Premier Andrew Fahie called on residents to “pray” for the island. That sentiment has been repeatedly echoed in all Caribbean media over the last couple days.
Dr. Gonsalves, in tears during a press conference on Friday, thanked all the islands for their assistance and well wishes during this challenging time.
“You know I must tell you the way in which people in St Vincent and the Grenadines and in ordinary people, and in Grenada and in Dominica, St Lucia, and Antigua, have responded to put people in their homes…strangers. Bring tears to my eyes. I love this Caribbean” Dr. Gonsalves said.
“It is very touching that there are families in Antigua and Grenada and St Lucia and Dominica who are calling in and say that they will take people if need be into their homes,” he also stated.
“a number of islands had already pledged their assistance to St. Vincent by committing to housing evacuees if necessary. One such island was Saint Lucia, which is located just north of St Vincent”. xxxxxxx; xxxxxxxx; xxxxxxxx; xxxxxxx;
“Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced that Dominica would provide accommodation for a fraction of the 7,000 evacuees expected to come from St Vincent”.
DNO, you really good eh!!!!!!!
You guys should have been mobilized since last week. Operation lava flow involved the entire RSS. This is more like a recovery mission because the disaster already happened. You guys should have been there to help the st. Vincent police force evacuate since many of them may be personally affected. The scientists were great but this is reactive and should have been more proactive. Lessons to be learned. The point is to save lives. And at this stage if things were worst it would have been a recovery effort.