IN SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT’S INITIATIVE, THE AID BANK SPEARHEADS EFFORTS OF LOCAL PRIVATE SECTOR, AND REGIONAL PARTNERS IN PROVIDING CRITICAL HURRICANE RELIEF SUPPLIES.

In support of the Government’s initiatives to assist the countries of St. Lucia and St. Vincent, which were hardest hit by the passage of Hurricane Tomas, the Dominica Agricultural Industrial and Development Bank [AID Bank] has spearheaded a number of efforts in arranging critical Hurricane relief supplies to these two countries.

The Government of Dominica, immediately after the Hurricane hit, arranged for supplies of water to be shipped to St. Lucia.

The country’s Coast Guard made several trips to the island, with its water cargo. In addition, a barge was despatched to the island with several thousand cartons of water compliments of the Government of Dominica.

Two containers of bottled water left Dominica on Thursday November 11 bound for St. Lucia, where there is a critical shortage of water for drinking purposes.

The National Bank of Dominica, the St. Kitts and Nevis Development Bank, the Antigua and Barbuda Development Bank and the Dominica Brewery and Beverages Limited, the producers of Loubiere Natural Caribbean Spring Water, made significant contributions to this effort, which was co-ordinated by the AID Bank.

The St. Lucia Development Bank, the institution which initiated this request to the AID Bank, will undertake the distribution of the water in collaboration with the National Emergency Organization (NEMO) of St. Lucia.

Another container with 25 tonnes of coils for the manufacture of galvanised roofing sheets capable of producing 1,750 galvanise sheets,  also left Dominica last Thursday for St. Vincent. St. Vincent experienced severe damage to houses as a result of Hurricane Tomas.

The Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica and the AID Bank collaborated in the purchase of the coils from M & J Roofing of One Mile Portsmouth, extruders of roofing material in Dominica.

Extruding plants in St. Vincent will convert the coils into galvanized sheets which will be distributed to affected households by the Government of St. Vincent’s Housing and Land Agency.

Prime Minister, the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, who visited St Vincent during last week commenting on these efforts, commended the contributions as being a clear and unequivocal demonstration of the high level of co-operation among the members of the OECS states stating that “While Dominica is not  a country endowed with cash or vast resources compared with others, these efforts at providing assistance to our fellow states in times of need with that which the Almighty has blessed us – such as water, points unequivocally to our commitment to the Regional movement.”

He stated further that the Prime Ministers of both countries expressed to him their sincerest gratitude to those entities, which arranged the contributions of these essential and much needed supplies for their citizens and requested him to convey their highest regard and respect to the citizens of Dominica.