Many of you will have watched with increasing despair and hopelessness the disaster that has unfolded in St Vincent and the Grenadines in the past few weeks. The eruption of La Soufriere Volcano was relentless and severe in its destructiveness, creating landslides and flooding that has destroyed homes and livelihoods. The cost of the impact will not just be financial, or short term. The losses will be devastating for most, people have said it is a savage return after a 42-year period of inactivity.
It has been heart-breaking to watch as families are evacuated from St Vincent and the Grenadines with just a pair of shoes and a black plastic bag to take with them to the nearest welcoming islands where they will receive much needed assistance. Children are bewildered as they look at their surroundings, but so are the adults. 1 John 3:17 says this “If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God be in that person?”
Many organisations and charities across the world have pledged their support to St Vincent and the Grenadines. Neighbouring islands have offered sanctuary to the homeless and displaced. We, in Reading, want to do our bit to help St Vincent and the Grenadines get back on its feet as quickly as possible. It is personal for many of us who will all have friends and even family among the St Vincent and the Grenadines’ diaspora.
The Barbados and Friends Association (BAFA) and The Jamaica Society and Friends (Reading) (TJS&FR) diaspora, living in relative safety in Reading, believe we can do something. Not all of us can afford to give, but we are asking that if you can afford to, please make a special donation to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). Their bank details are:
Beneficiary Bank: CIBC First Caribbean International Bank
Bank Address: Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados
Swift Code: FCIBBBBB
Name of Beneficiary: CDEMA La Soufriere Relief
Account Number: 1001206240
Currency of Account: UNITED STATES DOLLARS
Read more about how the CDEMA charity is helping SVG at www.cdema.org/la-soufriere.
Many of you will already have donated to the relief efforts, but if you still need to donate and are unsure how to do so, please use the link or the Bank Account details above. We are well acquainted with CDEMA and their charitable works and feel sure the money will be used to give direct assistance to the people who are suffering and who have lost so much. Any assistance you can give we are sure will be received as a blessing by those who have encountered and suffered such tragedy and hurt.
Please help to get the people of SVG to back on their feet. Our desire is to share a sense of community, to unite and come together to provide some relief. Your kindness in reaching out to those in need in SVG will help them recover from their feelings of hopelessness and allow them to focus on rebuilding their lives. This is a time for the people of the Caribbean and the diaspora to come together to give others a helping hand in these dark moments.
Without a doubt, other governments and municipalities will be offering aid, but as always civil society and the diaspora are leading the way and rightly doing our part. Whatever you can afford to give, however little or large, will be a great help.
