‘Whatever we can do for St Vincent we will do’- Premier Fahie

Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie has said the [British] Virgin Islands will be doing all that it can for the people of St Vincent currently affected by the eruption of La Soufriere volcano.

The Premier, speaking on the April 10, 2021, episode of ‘ZOEJ Says’, urged the Virgin Islands to “Keep our brothers and sisters in St Vincent in our prayers, it's very difficult to have to deal with COVID-19 as a people and as a leader and still have to deal with a volcano, that's not an easy task at all.”

Premier Andrew A. Fahie Speaking on the April 10, 2021, episode of ‘ZOEJ Says’ urged the Virgin Islands to keep the people of St. Vincent in their prayers since a volcano and COVID-19 is not easy to deal with.

Thoughts & prayers with SVG People

In a message to the Prime Minister of St Vincent, Hon Ralph E. Gonsalves, the premier said his thoughts and prayers are with the territory and pointed out that the VI will be offering help through the St Vincent Consulate in the VI.

“As the BVI, I want to make sure whatever we can do to help St Vincent, that we're going to do it because we say things sometimes… but when the time comes to do it, we try to shun from it, but we can't in the time of need. We have to help our brothers and sisters in whatever way we can, even while you're struggling you have to help,” he said.

In an emphatic plea to other Caribbean leaders to urgently lend a helping hand to St Vincent, Premier Fahie said he understands the crisis facing the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“It is not easy for someone who doesn't want to leave their home, who have to leave their home, knowing that they may never see that home again and not only that, not shift to another part of the island but have to be forced to leave the island altogether and go to another land that you don't know, so that's a heavy shock emotionally,” he said.

OESC, C’bean region in more talks

The Premier also said leaders in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have been in talks to offer aid and to decide what exactly will be supplied.

He said based on a needs list currently in development, the territory will have an accurate picture by mid-week of what it will contribute. This he said is to ensure everything is being done with integrity and to prevent possibilities of scam.

He said in the VI, there will be more meetings to decide on the way forward.

An ash cloud almost completely obscures the island of Saint Vincent after La Soufrière Volcano erupted explosively on the morning of April 9, 2021.