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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Bahamas Information Services Updates
Fourteenth Special Emergency Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community Eruption of La Soufrière in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas is pleased to inform the general public that the Hon. Darren A. Henfield, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs, led a delegation on behalf of the Most Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Hubert A. Minnis, ON, MP, in the Fourteenth Special Emergency Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community. The Meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and was virtually held on 15 April 2021.
During the meeting, Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of CARICOM Member States discussed the impact of the eruption of La Soufrière in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the surrounding islands of Barbados and Saint Lucia. The volcano initially erupted on 9 April 2021 and has resulted in the evacuation and displacement of approximately sixteen thousand Vincentians. The Most Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines informed those present of the critical need for water and food as they face shortages due to the impact of the eruptions on the municipal water supply. The Most Hon. Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados also highlighted the negative impact of the ash fall on her country noting that the island has been heavily impacted by the thick ash fall which has destroyed a large amount of the country’s vegetation. In addition, the thick ash plume has resulted in limited visibility and subsequent closure of the Grantley Adams Airport in Barbados since 11 April 2021. A number of Heads conveyed the support that would be given to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Minister Henfield, addressing the meeting on behalf of the Prime Minister recalled the support given by the region to The Bahamas in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian and reiterated The Bahamas’ support for the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines . He informed of The Bahamas’ pledge of one hundred thousand dollars (USD100,000) to assist with immediate needs. The Bahamas has also extended humanitarian assistance (as deemed necessary) to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines through the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), noting that an RBDF vessel can be used to transport humanitarian assistance from other countries to St. Vincent and the Grenadines when it travels to that part of the region for a previously arranged visit. Thoughts and prayers continue with the Government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and others impacted by the eruption of La Soufrière.
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