SENIOR Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, on behalf of President Dr Irfaan Ali, on Tuesday evening oversaw the dispatchment of a ship containing a quantity of relief supplies for people of Venezuela.
The ship after being loaded at the BK Wharf at Kingston, Georgetown, left for Caracas, Venezuela, Guyana’s earthquake-affected neighbour to the west.
According to a press release, the relief supplies comprised those being sent by Guyana and various other CARICOM countries, who assisted in the humanitarian aid, namely the Governments of Belize, The Bahamas, St. Lucia, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis ad St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Besides the 88 containers which contained food items, medical supplies and other equipment, 300 black tanks and 2 pieces of heavy earth moving equipment were also dispatched.
Speaking prior to the dispatchment of the relief, Dr Singh, while at the Kingston Wharf reminded that all of Guyana would have witnessed the horrific devastation that was caused by the June 24 earthquakes when structures were destroyed and there was widespread loss of life and injury.
He added, “immediately after the occurrence of the disaster, President Ali, in what can only be described as a gesture of good neighbourliness, immediately conveyed his sympathy at the loss of life and his deep concern for the injuries sustained and for the damages that would have occurred as a result of this really horrific natural disaster.”
Minister Singh also recalled that beyond simply conveying his concerns, President Ali immediately mobilised a massive national and regional effort to secure contributions alongside government’s own effort to mobilise the collection of humanitarian supplies to be sent to the people of Venezuela.
“Today’s shipment is the result of that effort. And many of us would have witnessed the remarkable response to President Ali’s initiative. We saw a significant government effort, but we also saw a remarkable response by the Guyanese private sector. We saw a remarkable response by Guyanese citizens. We saw a remarkable response by Venezuelan citizens living in Guyana and significantly, I referred earlier to the effort as a national and regional effort, because President Ali also reached out to his CARICOM counterparts, heads of government across CARICOM- and several of his counterparts across CARICOM responded favourably,” the finance minister emphasised.
Minister Singh noted that what is seen today reflects not only the mobilisation done in Guyana and the contributions made by the Government of Guyana and the people of Guyana, but also contributions made by several member states of CARICOM.
“I want, on President Ali’s behalf, to acknowledge the contributions made by the seven participating members of CARICOM who pledged and/or sent contributions as part of this effort. I want to thank all of them on President Ali’s behalf and acknowledge the generosity of their support for this initiative. I want also on behalf of President Irfaan Ali to acknowledge the spontaneous and generous reaction of the Guyanese private sector, of Guyanese citizens, and of Venezuelan citizens living in Guyana, all of whom responded immediately and generously,” the minister posited.
“Venezuela is our neighbour, the Venezuelan people are our neighbours, and so we consider this to be the least that we could do as a country in this moment of tragedy in support of our Venezuelan brothers and sisters,” Dr Singh concluded.
The ship is expected to arrive in Venezuela within four days of departing Guyana.
Minister Singh, while at the wharf, also reminded those present that there is an international humanitarian effort underway.
“We are in close contact with our U.S. counterparts who have a presence on the ground, and so these goods will be delivered to the U.S. team that is present in Venezuela for consolidation into the broader mobilisation effort and for deployment in an optimal manner for the benefit of the Guyanese people. I want once again, on behalf of President Ali to reiterate our deep and abiding concern for the safety and well-being of the Venezuelan people and to convey condolences to the families of those who would have lost their lives as well as wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured in the process,” the minister further added.
He then reaffirmed Government’s commitment to standing with the people of Venezuela in this moment of tragedy.
