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Saint Lucia Mobilises to Help Dominica following Hurricane Maria Devastation

Saint Lucia Mobilises to Help Dominica following Hurricane Maria Devastation

Statement from Acting Prime Minister of Saint Lucia Honourable Lenard Montoute

The Cabinet of Ministers met Tuesday morning to discuss the preliminary situation in Dominica following the passage of Hurricane Maria on Monday September 19th and Saint Lucia’s immediate response to provide relief.

Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment, Honourable Lenard Montoute explained that plans were already underway to make Saint Lucia an operational base for the relief effort to Dominica. 

The Acting Prime Minister called for prayers for the Nature Isle in their time of need while stating the situation was critical.

“Right now our thoughts are with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and the people of Dominica. Preliminary information is that we have widespread devastation in Dominica,” said Minister Montoute. “From our understanding they are facing a very critical situation and our prayers are with them, as our sister and neighbour. We have to respond and do what we can to assist our brothers and sisters in Dominica.”

Acting Prime Minister Montoute added that communication has been made with the French and Venezuelan authorities in terms of assistance.

Said Minister Montoute: “Saint Lucia will be used as the base for relief efforts into Dominica because, as you can well appreciate, the airports are not operational; neither are the sea ports. Reconnaissance flights will have to be made to ascertain the actual situation on the ground and for immediate preparation to be made for the landing of helicopters and other aircrafts. We are looking at what assistance we can give immediately and that may entail medical assistance and sending medical personnel and people with expertise in search and rescue. We are hoping that by this evening an assessment of the situation would have been made and we can get a better appreciation of the kind of assistance that is immediately required.”

With Saint Lucia being used as an operational base for the humanitarian effort, the Government has agreed in conjunction with the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Port Authority to waive fees and facilitate the use of warehouse facilities for receipt and distribution.

Saint Lucia is coordinating with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission on the response efforts. Persons willing to provide assistance are asked to contact the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) at 758-452-3802 or email: [email protected]

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Nicole McDonald Senior Communications Officer, Office of the Prime Minister Allen Chastanet
OECS Communications Unit Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
Nicole McDonald Senior Communications Officer, Office of the Prime Minister Allen Chastanet
OECS Communications Unit Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
About The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

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The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is an International Organisation dedicated to economic harmonisation and integration, protection of human and legal rights, and the encouragement of good governance among independent and non-independent countries in the Eastern Caribbean. The OECS came into being on June 18th 1981, when seven Eastern Caribbean countries signed a treaty agreeing to cooperate with each other while promoting unity and solidarity among its Members. The Treaty became known as the Treaty of Basseterre, so named in honour of the capital city of St. Kitts and Nevis where it was signed. The OECS today, currently has eleven members, spread across the Eastern Caribbean comprising Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Martinique and Guadeloupe. 

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