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Volcano: Trinidad & Tobago deploying soldiers to St. Vincent & Grenadines to help coordinate aid effort
Eruption of the volcano has resulted in several people having to be evacuated to other Caribbean island-nations
The Rowley administration has revealed that it will be deploying soldiers to St. Vincent & the Grenadines from today as that Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country continues to deal with the explosive eruptions of the La Soufrière volcano.
“We will be deploying 50 officers of the Trinidad & Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) to St. Vincent & the Grenadines SVG on Tuesday, 13 April, 2021. This contingent of the TTDF will comprise of personnel from engineers, infantry/provost, medical and logistics. The TTDF contingent will be stationed in SVG for 2 weeks in the first instance,” the Ministry of National Security said in a statement.
The ministry, which has been coordinating Port-of-Spain’s assistance to St Vincent & the Grenadines, said the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management has been coordinating efforts to collect supplies to be transported to the twin-island nation today and tomorrow.
“We shall be using the Galleons Passage to carry our troops and supplies to SVG on Tuesday. We will seek to repatriate Trinidad & Tobago nationals from SVG on Tuesday using the Galleons Passage and are currently making such arrangements along with the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs.
“All nationals returning will be quarantined and treated in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 protocols,” the statement said, adding that the Rowley administration continues to be in contact with the authorities in St Vincent & the Grenadines and to monitor their situation.
The eruption of the volcano has resulted in several people having to be evacuated to several Caribbean island-nations including Barbados and St. Lucia and the scientists monitoring the volcano have warned that the eruptions could continue for several weeks.
Trinidad & Tobago joins Barbados in deploying the contingent as part the Caribbean Regional Security System’s humanitarian assistance and disaster response mission to St. Vincent & the Grenadines in the aftermath of the La Soufrière volcano erruption. -(CMC)