Japarts makes $1.1M donation to St. Vincent volcano relief

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has received overwhelming support from the business community to aid relief efforts to St. Vincent and Grenadines which is battling the aftermath of the La Soufriere volcano eruption.

Added to the list was a $1.1 million donation made by Japarts Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Terry Singh, on Monday as part of a collaborative effort with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

“It’s an honour to serve my country when it’s called upon, especially joining with the GCCI; the company is very pleased to assist in this regard. My heart goes out to the people in the St Vincent and Grenadines. I’m sure someday, we could have been in that position so if it’s our chance to help let us do it now,” Singh said during the simple handing over ceremony at Japart’s Source One Compound at Oronoque Street, Georgetown.

Director-General of the CDC, Colonel Kester Craig, expressed gratitude to the company and commended the support garnered from the private sector within just hours after the call was put forward for supplies.

“[For] the first time in a very long time, I’ve seen the public-private partnership and the corporate social responsibilities by all the private sector agency working so quickly to amass a large supply of leaf items to be distributed to our brothers and sisters in St Vincent and the Grenadines in just over 36 hours.”

Currently, the “Meena” vessel has received more than 300 tonnes of needed supplies for St. Vincent.

Colonel Craig noted that within 48 hours, the capacity of the vessel was exceeded and that could not have been done without the support from the private sector.

“We’re able to provide supplies ranging from food items, safety items, water, sanitation items, all the needed items that the people of St Vincent and Grenadines need at this time,” he said.

Meanwhile, the GCCI President, Timothy Tucker, noted too that more donations will be made by members of the Chamber as the relief efforts continue.

Also delivering comments at the simple ceremony was Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud, who stated that hotlines have been established to connect with Guyanese currently living in St. Vincent and Grenadines with the aim of assessing the further needs of those affected.

“I think this shows that we are very caring people, that we are very humane and I think it speaks well of us as a nation, and I’m quite sure this is perhaps the first of many other types of interventions will be seen,” Persaud stated.