Caricom preparing earthquake aid package for Venezuela

Caribbean Community nations on June 28 said they are preparing to collectively rush aid to regional member state Guyana for forwarding to neighboring Venezuela by the weekend.

Leading the effort is regional headquarter nation Guyana, which said it will load relief supplies raised locally as well as from member state contributions on a vessel scheduled to sail from the country on July 3. The vessel is expected to arrive in Venezuela in just about two days.

So far, officials say that the vessel is capable of ferrying up to 8,000 tons of food, water, clothing, medical supplies and recovery equipment to the South American nation, which was hit by two earthquakes in the middle of last week. The death toll has climbed to nearly 1,500, with additional fatalities expected to be added to the tally.

Speaking at the weekend, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali said the 15-nation bloc will rally to assist Venezuela and said the region has to respond to the disaster as good neighbors.

“We are responding to one of the greatest humanitarian needs as a result of a disaster in Venezuela on a scale and magnitude that is unimaginable. As a good neighbor we must reach out. The people of Guyana stand ready to support in whatever capacity we can. We are outlining with great clarity the level of support from only from Guyana but coordinating and collaborating with the rest of CARICOM to provide support to the people of Venezuela,” Ali said at a press briefing, surrounded by officials from the military, the private sector and those from the disaster relief commission. “So far, we have mobilized close to 100 containers including five containers with critical pharmaceuticals, rice, milk products, and diapers. The need is immense. This is not an easy task. It is an immense logistics operation, “said Ali. Guyanese soldiers are also being sent to help with recovery efforts on the ground in Venezuela.

He said that authorities in St. Kitts will be sending at least three containers with food and other supplies, while nearby Antigua has said it will be contributing $150,000 to the relief effort from the region.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne recalled Venezuela sending planes to evacuate residents of sister island Barbuda after a recent hurricane, noting that is the federation’s turn to reciprocate.

“That compassionate act of solidarity and good neighborliness remains deeply etched in the memory of our nation. It is an expression of friendship that Antiguans and Barbudans will never forget,” Browne said.

Jamaica and Barbados are also among member states which have pledged to participate in any regional effort and are likely to send their contributions this week. Ali and his team of government and private sector officials who spoke at the press briefing, did also say that a second vessel is available to ship additional supplies based on contributions from both state and private sectors. “The private sector is critically involved in this support and critically involved in the planning and execution of this operation. We are a country with a large number of Venezuelan nationals who work and live here. That community and the general Guyanese communities would have reached out and responded in an unbelievable way,” the president stated.