News
SVG Receives More Support after Volcanic Eruptions Displace 20, 000 People
#St.Vincent&TheGrenadines, April 17, 2021 – Hard times hit St Vincent residents and the Grenadines after a catastrophic volcanic eruption displaces over 20,000 residents. The events unfolded as a 42-year dormant volcano roared back into life last Friday, 9th April 2020, spewing a cloud of billowing grey ashes 20,000 feet above the Atlantic ocean.
Even though the Friday eruption of a volcano known as La Soufrière, located in the northern tip of the main island of St. Vincent, hit at the most uncertain of times as the country struggles with the Covid-19 pandemic, experts had predicted the occurrence since late December 2020.
“La Soufriere has moved into an explosive state. Plumes up to eight kilometers. Ashfall expected within five minutes,” the country’s National Emergency Management Organization said on Twitter. Six hours later, another eruption followed, though not as imminent as the first explosion, according to one of the residents evacuated from the danger zone.
The unfortunate events occurred barely a day after the officials raised the alert level following several small tremors detected at the volcano, with clouds of steam seen erupting from its peak. Scientists warn of more volcanic activities in the area for some days to come.
However, St Vincent and the Grenadines aren’t alone, as many Caribbean countries extend a helping hand to the people affected. Some of the countries that promised their support to the troubled Caribbean nation include Guyana which has pledged to deliver supplies upon receiving the requirements.
Grenada has promised accommodation for 1,600 people, Trinidad and Tobago promised support during the evacuation and monitoring, while Dominica pledged a 5-month accommodation and food for 300 people. St. Kitts and Nevis pledged $1 million in disaster relief.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Jorge Arreaza announced he would send humanitarian supplies, while Barbados deployed members of its Defense Force to deliver UNICEF relief supplies and offer assistance. The country joined St. Lucia, Antigua, and Grenada to accept evacuees, with empty Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise ships on standby to transport them.
But, that’s not all as many more countries and regional companies keep joining in hands for the safety and well-being of the people affected in St. Vincent and Grenadines.
There are currently 89 public shelters open and operating; there are 4, 136 people in those shelters which SVG’s NEMO says is 1,333 families and zero casualties. Private shelters are home now to 3,275 people and overall some 7,411 residents are displaced as of today, April 16.
#TheBahamas, May 26, 2022 – Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Hon. Clay Sweeting said The Bahamas has made great strides to work with CARICOM countries to enhance The Bahamas’ poultry industry.
Minister Sweeting traveled with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Hon I. Chester Cooper, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Leonardo Lightbourne, Food Agricultural Organization (FAO) Ambassador H.E. Winston Pinnock and other top tourism officials to the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo held in Guyana from May 18-20.
The event was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Center under the theme ‘Investing in Vision 25 by 2025’.
During the conference, Minister Sweeting met with several CARICOM leaders in Agriculture. He said he felt encouraged that the region would work together to reduce its food import bill and increase food security.
“In coming to Guyana, we wanted to explore opportunities and options, meet with other countries where we can work with other CARICOM leaders who also share the same focus as The Bahamas in developing their agricultural sector. We are trying to get to the point where we reduce imports by 25 percent by 2025. The Bahamas is a part of CARICOM and so we are committed to that and we’re looking for sectors to do that. We feel that poultry is one of the
sectors that we can do that very quickly and microgreens through vertical farming,” he said.
Minister Sweeting added that many countries are merging their poultry sectors with other food items that they can export.
“As we look around, countries have done very well in the sector. We understand that Guyana is one of the countries that has done well in Agriculture especially in poultry and coconut production. So, it seems that many countries are merging the two industries,” he said. “That’s what seems to be happening across CARICOM. For persons that are interested in investing in Agriculture, other countries are finding ways to work together to fight food insecurity together and as a unit.
“We feel both are bankable products and we are exploring opportunities to garner attraction in both of those. We were able to visit the poultry farm here in Guyana – Bounty Farms – that has done a wonderful job and produce around 25,000 chickens per day, and we are looking to do something of that sort in The Bahamas as well. Once we create this poultry industry in The Bahamas, it would create opportunities for Bahamians, for farmers and persons who want to get involved in producing feed. So, it is a full circle industry where thousands of Bahamians could benefit.”
Minister Sweeting noted that countries like Jamaica, Trinidad and Guyana are eager to assist The Bahamas.
“What is very interesting and exciting is that the Ministers from Guyana and Jamaica have expressed their assistance to us as a country. If we are looking at the poultry sector, they are looking to help us in any way that they can. The comradery that we have had here over the last few days speaks to what we want to do as a CARICOM country and how our deficiencies could assist them and where they have deficiencies, we can work together. The minister of tourism met with other ministers of tourism and offered them some advice on how they can work with their tourism product and where we lack in agriculture they can assist in that manner as well,” he said.
Minister Sweeting said the government will work towards changing policies to encourage chicken production.
“Chicken is something that we can produce very quickly once we have the right policy in place to protect the farmers, the producers and processors and create an industry. A chicken from egg to adult is very minimal time. We want to be very aggressive with this and as soon as we can create a proper policy in this sector, we want to make it happen,” he said.
Release: Bahamas Ministry of Agriculture & Marine Resources
#TheBahamas, May 26, 2022 – Minister of Health & Wellness, the Honourable Dr. Michael R. Darville confirmed that there has been an uptick in positive COVID-19 cases in particular in New Providence over the past three (3) weeks. The Minister added that samples to test for the Omicron BA.2. Variant were collected and sent for genome mapping.
The Disease Surveillance Unit he said has turned specific focus on schools in the country as cases continue to rise. “This Ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Education & Technical & Vocational Training as well as with the unions”, Minister Darville said, “…on ways to mitigate the potential spread in our schools so that we do not disadvantage our children from getting access to education.”
He noted the increase in hospital cases was not directly related to COVID-19 but associated with complications from
Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (CNCD’s). The Health Minister described it as a “common occurrence in countries battling CNCD’s because the pandemic pushed these comorbidities to the back burner as it relates to usual care”. Hospital officials are working assiduously he said, to address bed spaces to accommodate a surplus in admission cases.
Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) Managing Director Aubynette Rolle added that the number of positive cases are being recorded at the hospital because testing for the virus is a prerequisite for admission. Much of it, MD Rolle said, falls into the category of a secondary diagnosis. She echoed a previous statement by Health Minister Darville who confirmed that there is no cause for alarm when it comes to adequate supplies of medicine.
Bahamians and residents are urged to continue to follow the COVID-19 safety protocols which help to limit the spread of the virus. Persons can also guard themselves from severe COVID-19 infection by getting the COVID-19 vaccine, 1st and 2nd boosters and extended series doses for persons who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. Appointments can be made online at vax.gov.bs or walk-ins are welcomed at vaccination sites. Persons with mobility challenges may request a home visit by emailing vax242.mobile@gmail.com.
The public is encouraged to access community clinics for primary and urgent care and the Princess Margaret Hospital Emergency Department for emergency care only. The hours of operation for the New Providence Polyclinics are:
- Elizabeth Estates Clinic: 9:00a.m. – 9:00p.m., Mondays – Fridays
- Flamingo Gardens Clinic: 8:00a.m. – 9:00p.m., Mondays – Fridays
- Fleming Street Clinic: 8:00a.m. – 8:00p.m., Mondays – Fridays
- South Beach Health Centre: 9:00a.m. – 8:00p.m., Mondays – Fridays.
Release: Ministry of Health & Wellness
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