Port of Spain: On Friday May 07, 2021 the Minister of National Security, the Honourable Fitzgerald Hinds MP, officially brought to a close the national collection drive that was launched on behalf of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). 

The collection drive was initiated by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. the Honourable Keith C. Rowley MP, on Friday April 09, 2021, the date of the first explosive eruption of the La Soufrière Volcano. The Prime Minister simultaneously appointed the Ministry of National Security as the coordinating agency. 

Minister Hinds takes this opportunity to express his heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the national community, on behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, for its overwhelming support to the initiative.

As a result of the exceptional national response, the Galleon’s Passage made two (2) voyages to SVG where it transported almost 600 metric tonnes of supplies. The ship’s cargoes included water, canned foods, medical supplies, hygiene and sanitary products, personal protective equipment (PPE) and various other items inclusive of mattresses, water tanks, buckets and animal feed.

The Minister also thanks his predecessor, the Honourable Stuart R. Young MP, who initiated the process as well as the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), which was appointed to spearhead the relief collection drive.

In addition, he extends his gratitude to the several private citizens, Civil Society Organisations, the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA), the Chambers of Commerce, beverage companies, hardware and building supplies companies and the various other businesses for the items that were amassed to be sent to SVG.

Minister Hinds expresses his appreciation to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon and her team, for the invaluable role they played in coordinating the efforts of the business community.

To assist persons who were interested in making contributions, the ODPM established 18 collection centres ably supported by the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government, Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), the Foundation for the Enhancement of Life (FEEL) and Unicomer (Trinidad) Ltd.

The movement of the donated items from the collection centres to the Port of Port of Spain was organised by the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF), RAMPS Logistics Ltd. and the Laing Group. It was through the assistance of National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (NIDCO) and the Inter-island Transportation Company Ltd. that the Galleon’s Passage was able to safely transport the relief items to their final destination. 

The Minister thanks all these organisations along with the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago, who in partnership with the energy companies and the owners of platform vessels, transported hundreds of gallons of bulk water to SVG.

The Minister of National Security also extends his profound appreciation to the innumerable, nameless and faceless individuals and organisations, all who responded to the call and made the endeavour a resounding success.

He also thanks the Media for its excellent coverage of the initiative and for keeping the public informed about the events as they unfolded in SVG.