India has donated approximately US$1 million in hurricane relief supplies to the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The supplies were handed over to the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) in Kingstown by Subhash Prasad Gupta, high commissioner of India to SVG.
Prasad Gupta said it was the first shipment of relief supplies, totalling 65 tons, with another shipment expected to arrive soon.
Prasad Gupta said the supplies consist of sleeping bags, personal hygiene kits, and, among other items, tarpaulins.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Frederick Stephenson expressed gratitude to India for the donation, saying that India and SVG have enjoyed a longstanding bilateral relationship since diplomatic relations were established in September 1981.
Stephenson cited examples such as the Indian Grant Assistance totalling US$200,000 for the implementation of Quick Impact Projects (QIP), which led to the restoration and repairs of the Bequia Community Market, completed on in December 2020; construction of the Chateaubelair Agricultural Processing and Training Facility, completed in December 2022; construction of the Glenside Recreation Center, completed in August 2022; and refurbishment of the Calder Community Centre, completed in September 2023.
Director at NEMO, Michelle Forbes thanked India for responding to the needs list generated by the disaster management agency following the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 1.
Forbes said that four months after the passage of Hurricane Beryl, relief supplies are still being sent to the Southern Grenadines weekly, where disaster response, recovery and reconstruction efforts are ongoing.
Nothing for nothing these days.lets see what the Indians need in return