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VI pledges $200k each to hurricane-hit SVG & Grenada

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), speaking at the opening ceremony of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Eleventh Council of Ministers: Environmental Sustainability (COM:ES 11) at H.Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) in Paraquita Bay on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, made a monetary pledge to St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. Photo: GIS/File
A satellite image shows destroyed buildings after Hurricane Beryl passed northeastern Carriacou, Grenada, July 2, 2024. Photo: Maxar Technologies
A satellite image shows destroyed buildings after Hurricane Beryl passed northeastern Carriacou, Grenada, July 2, 2024. Photo: Maxar Technologies
PARAQUITA BAY, Tortola, VI- The Government of the [British] Virgin Islands has pledged a contribution of $200,000 each to St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada to assist in their relief efforts, following the devastating impact of Hurricane Beryl over 3 weeks ago.

This was announced by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) at the opening ceremony of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Eleventh Council of Ministers: Environmental Sustainability (COM:ES 11) at H.Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) in Paraquita Bay on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.

The Premier took the opportunity to publicly offer The Virgin Islands’ sympathy and empathy for St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.

He said the VI understands what those countries are going through and that these are yet the early days of recovery with a long, hard road ahead with more risk awaiting along that path.

According to the Premier, the Government and people of The Virgin Islands remember well with great appreciation the outpouring of assistance received from the OECS family in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria and are now happy to extend a helping hand to its brethren in their hour of need.

$400,000 donation pledged

“I am pleased to announce, a pledge to St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada. $200,000 each to St Vincent & the Grenadines and Grenada to contribute to your relief efforts,” Dr Wheatley stated.

The Premier, who chaired COM:ES 11, reminded there is no shortage of serious environmental and sustainability issues that confront the Virgin Islands.

“We know these issues well. We live them every day and they form the COMES agenda that we can currently engrossed in - issues like climate change, pollution and waste management. We could pass the entire evening speaking about the existential threat of climate change alone to our small islands.”

He also shared that within the OECS region of 11 member states, there is now a collection of six member states (55%) that have been hit and devastated by unprecedented, record-breaking hurricanes since Irma and Maria in 2017, including The Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and now, less than a month ago, at the very start of the hurricane season, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada with Beryl.

27 Responses to “VI pledges $200k each to hurricane-hit SVG & Grenada”

  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (26/07/2024, 09:48) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply
    Good idea, Premier, Hon. Natalio Sujande Wheatley, as per the Topic Issue. Make sure it happens in the possible shortest time.
  • wha! (26/07/2024, 10:09) Like (2) Dislike (22) Reply
    Only dah?
  • l (26/07/2024, 10:11) Like (25) Dislike (14) Reply
    WHAT!!! Our East End Roads are a death trap!!! East End across from the bus stop right on the side road and in front of politician Pickering's house Long Look big square holes to destroy our tires and undercarriages on our vehicles, to Paraquita Bay, Josiah's Bay Road, Old Plantation Road, Little Dix Road. All are in horrible condition with no help in sight. You won't even help your own community but run to help everyone else! A downright disgrace!!! I can't stand this anymore! You should not be promoting tourism at all since they are being jumbled around in the taxis coming through here.
    • ... (26/07/2024, 11:43) Like (41) Dislike (3) Reply
      you wrong for this! i hope you remember how much countries came together and was ready to assist us when IRMA clapped our behinds! roads the least right now. people lost their homes!!!
  • Hmm (26/07/2024, 10:34) Like (20) Dislike (6) Reply
    What about Jamaica ayo forget hurrican Irma is Jamaican was here fixing our currants ...hmmmmm
    • @hmmm (26/07/2024, 14:45) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
      Was it done free ?
      • @hmmm (27/07/2024, 15:41) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Yes it was free of a cost and Jamaican was the first to come and start getting lights in places ,like you forgot
    • Bree (26/07/2024, 17:02) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Hmmm

      Last, I checked they were paid for the work they did. Do you remember the news story on them demanding pay for helping us? If not check this same news site for the story.
    • bay yute (26/07/2024, 21:41) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Jamaica was not badly damaged bout what happen to jamaica . Strupes
    • Incorrect (27/07/2024, 02:45) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      @hmm after the 2017 hurricane it was people from Belize who was assisting with the power. I know because I help organized it. It wasn’t for free they got paid and got paid well. Jamaica have enough celebrities to can build Jamaica if they want to donating time for a good cause.

      They can host a celebrity football, cricket match, Host friends and family stage shows “ bring in their celebrities American friends etc “
  • E. Leonard (26/07/2024, 10:42) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    In the US during the slavery and Jim Crow era, semi-slavery, a mantra among blacks was, ‘ each one teach one’. I borrowed and modified that to say, ‘each one help one.’ It is one region, one people, and group effort is important. Regional resources must be employed to benefit the most people in the region.

    The Caribbean is a disaster prone region, ie, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, hurricanes, especially to hurricanes. The region lies in hurricane belt/alley and every year during hurricane season,which officially runs from June 01 to November 30, some island(s) is hit and devastated by at least one hurricane(s). It is not if but when any island will be hit. The disaster(s) caused by hurricanes set back the progress, growth, and development of fledgling resource-poor countries. The lack of resources slows the build back, resiliency of countries hit by hurricanes; the damages impact the physical infrastructure, ie, roads, water, wastewater, electricity, telecommunications, etc, , along with social infrastructure, ie, schools, medical facilities, etc. The economy, housing, businesses, etc are also impacted. The region must come together, national sovereignty aside, pooling their limited resources to provide some insurance to protect and speed up the recovery. It is commendable and exemplary that the (British) Virgin Islands ( VI) is stepping up to assist Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It cannot and should not be lost that today is the VI sister regional countries dealing with the ravages of a hurricane but tomorrow it could be the VI.

    Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency ( CDEMA) mimics FEMA in vision and mission but without the resources. CDEMA must be restructured and better resourced, and managed to facilitate pre- and post- disaster response and assistance. Of course FEMA is funded by the US, the #1 global economy.
    • class mate (26/07/2024, 16:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      To E. Leonard, “E. One Helps One.” Sounding right and catch bro. “It cannot and should not be lost that today is the VI sister regional countries dealing with the ravages of a hurricane but tomorrow it could be the VI,” Well said. This is a reality. CDEMA, though I’m not too familiar with it, seems like a good attempt to centralize regional disaster relief, response, and assistance. Major Bay Primary/Williard Wheatley rocks, representing. Teacher Mac…..would be .
    • Quiet Storm (26/07/2024, 16:18) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      E. Leonard, yes, $400K is a tidy sum but it is less than 1% of the BVI’s O&M Budget. It is for a worthy cause, helping our regional brothers and sisters. They help us when it was we got hit , ie, Hurricane Irma and Maria in 2017. As you noted, “ it is not if any island will be hit; it is a matter of when.” Ttlrue, true, dat. Some of us will make the case that many VI residents are hurting and needs help. True, but we look long/term, showing compassion to our neighbors who are needed..If we don’t help, we should not expect help when we need it.
  • Sowande again (26/07/2024, 11:33) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Great. Excellent. KNow one knows when is there turn with these unpredictable destructive forces of nature.
  • oh well (26/07/2024, 11:49) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/grenada-to-receive-us44-million-from-ccrif-for-hurricane-damage
  • Hmmmm (26/07/2024, 12:19) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    We know this government promises money but forgets to actually cut a check - DO IT NOW1
  • Well Sah (26/07/2024, 12:23) Like (14) Dislike (5) Reply
    And people here suffering and can’t pay their bills or even eat well.
    “Charity begins at Home “
    • smh (27/07/2024, 02:39) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      @well Sah it’s impossible people here suffering when they’re out every weekend in new fits etc. people like you will always suffer and deserve to suffer due to you having you’re mixed up priorities.
  • Really (26/07/2024, 13:20) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    It's funny how they keep saying they don't have money but they spent millions of tax payers money in just two months. When are you all going to realise that All government just sign and cash checks. They don't go broke the ELITES puppets prints money around the clock. You ever seen old wrinkle up money every day. You see new money all the time. Why not print enough money so we don't have to use our money Wow. You will never understand how dumb you all really are. I listen to so much people just repeating what they hear on tv,radio,books etc and it's just sounds so stupid. The brain in you all are useless because you all think I am crazy. .you can't do nothing in this place without permission, license, passports etc . The government mock you dumb folks with that freedom sign by Dr, Smith office. How to you have freedom when you can't leave here without a passport. You can't open an account with your money without police report, pictures everything that cost you even moreoney to make you broke. You pay the teachers because they work for government. You will the school but still have to pay for lunch, books, toilet paper everything. Lol I am just amazed. Do you not wake up and want to do what you want without consequences by the ELITES
  • Mark (26/07/2024, 13:27) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    After Erma/Maria them same countries came to our aid, so please stop sounding ungrateful with yo piss.
  • Hmmmmm (26/07/2024, 15:24) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is great I fully support helping others in times of need however why is it that when it comes to issues here in the territory nothing can be done because the government has to first find out who they can borrow money from ??
  • vi (26/07/2024, 16:01) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    I am ashamed of the selfish comments on here and can't believe that people talking about roads when people are getting wet if it rains because their roofs and houses are gone. I was wondering when I would hear about what we as a country was donating to our brothers and sisters down the islands, that were ravaged by Hurricane Beryl. Good job Premier and the rest of the BVI Government. We need not forget that we were in that same position in 2017. We must help each other.
  • one one (26/07/2024, 16:13) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Give thank it will help a few family, help who help you
  • Ungrateful (27/07/2024, 04:24) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    We seems to forget. We were in need and help came from every where but because we are back on our feet the ungrateful part in our hearts kicked in. Oh how sad and wicked some of us are.

    In the midst of your pain give and see the reward. Don't you think other countries are not in pain but they gave to help us and others.
    Search your heart and see if there be any wicked ways in it. Don't join the ungrateful club of evil in your hearts.
    Don't be an ungrateful nation.
  • @ E Leonard (27/07/2024, 18:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    HEY BRO , SO YOU SURFACED AGAIN , WHO BASKED UOU ABOUT ( JIM CROW )
    ❓️ ???? WE HAVE BEEN BEGGING YOU BGIVE THE ORIGIN OF THE RACIAL PROFILING OF OUR CARIBBEAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS AS ( ISLAND PEOPLE )AND YOU ARE DELIB PLAYING YOU GOT AMNESIA / BUT YOU KNOW ALL THE HISTORY OF EVERYBODY ELSE EXCEPT OUR OWN , YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF / WE ONLIVE OBCE SO ARE YOU WILLING TO CARRY THAT SECRET TO YOUR GRAVE .❓️ WHO ARE YOU AFRAID OF ❓️ TELL THE TRUTH SIR / ENLIGHTEN OUR PEOPLE SO WE CAN ALL UNITE AND LIVE TOGETHER IN PEACE AND HARMONY WITH EACHOTHER AND SHARE THE LOVE THAT GOD GAVE US , AS YOU SHOLD KNOW / OR MAYBE YOU NEVER HEARD OF THE BIBLE OR GOD
  • We eat Stupid bush (28/07/2024, 17:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I don't have no problem with you all giving money to help out your brother and sister Caribbean people but what happen to the people in the BVI who struggling and begging for help since Irma and Maria... The people in the BVI need help... People asking for help with their house repair, retaining walls, business going under and you all keep saying you have no money but when WE BVIslanders see this is gets us angry. You don't have money to help people living paycheck to paycheck. HELP... We in the BVI need help too.
  • Really? (02/08/2024, 10:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wait. What? So we do have money?! Mehson Natalio fix the place!!


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