OECS conducts urgent meeting, discusses La Soufrière volcano crisis

About three months after its first emergency meeting on the La Soufrière volcano in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the OECS Authority, headed by Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, met in an urgency meeting virtually convened on Monday, April 12, 2021.

The OECS authorities discussed, among other things, the continuing explosive eruptions at La Soufrière volcano in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the local response measures in connection with this disaster.

Chairman Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit opened the meeting by assuring the solidarity of the OECS member states with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and emphasizing that the meeting looks at the critical needs of the island, as well as the ability of the OECS member states to assist Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The chairman reiterated the support of the government and the people of the Dominican Commonwealth with a promise to accept in the first place about 300 people, covering accommodation and all related expenses. The support includes preparations to receive students who are in school.

The OECS Authority has received a summary report from the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who sincerely thanked the Heads of Government, Development Partners and Regional Agencies for the solidarity and support given to the government and the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

There is an outpouring of good Samaritans; the people worked together in unity, and of course, the Caribbean family responded in a wonderful way. When I talk about it, my eyes water with tears.' added SVG PM, Ralph Gonsalves.

The prime minister said that the island was facing declining water supplies (the island's water supply was at 20% capacity), declining food supplies, a power outage and challenges to the distribution of supplies by the National Emergency Management Organization.

Amid the dire circumstances facing the island, the Prime Minister reported that the citizens have a reluctance to take up the offer of evacuation to other islands because these people did not want to leave their home and possessions behind; and there was dawdling around the vaccine provision.

It was worried that the condition could be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which the country is struggling to manage.

He reported that not only were people reluctant to leave the island, but that reluctance to leave their homes behind led the Coast Guard teams to conduct rescue operations to retrieve these individuals.

Prime Minister Gonsalves regrets that these rescues endangered the lives of the crew because the coastguard had to work along the Atlantic side of the island where the ocean was inflexible, exacerbated by possible compromises of the engines by the axis of La Soufrière.

Premier Gonsalves concluded that 40% of agriculture in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the north had been reduced and that income taxes and infrastructure repairs were immediately necessary. He claims that it will take a while before the agricultural sector grows.

In evaluating the northern area of ​​Saint Vincent and the Grenadines after the last volcanic eruption, Prime Minister Gonsalves suspected that "the place is deserted."

Reaffirmed the support of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and authenticated that Antigua and Barbuda had mobilized the Jolly Beach Hotel to receive evacuees; two cruise ships would leave Antigua and Barbuda for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on the evening of April 12, 2021. He confirmed that there would also be a monetary contribution as the country stands in solidarity with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.