Plans are currently being made for a shipment of food items and other supplies to the British Virgin Islands (BVI), which was severely damaged from the passage of Hurricane Irma, last week.

A large boat transporting the items is scheduled to leave Port Kingstown this Friday September 15, 2017 for Rhode Island in the BVI.

Persons interested in sending personalized supplies to their families and friends are asked to ensure that these are taken to the Geest Shed in Kingstown no later than this Thursday September 14.

Speaking this morning on the Shakeup Program aired here on WEFM, Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar said all packages must be properly labelled and must contain non-perishable items.

He said an official from the Ministry of Agriculture Plan Quarantine Department will be available to take the necessary information from the senders and ensure the package is placed on the vessel.

Minister Caesar said persons who just need to send items for general distribution can also take those items to the Geese Shed. He said items will also be transferred from Tortola to Virgin Gorda, where many Vincentian nationals reside.

“What we want is that once it’s on the vessel we have someone already identified in Tortola who will be taking charge of distribution for Virgin Gorda and Tortola,” the Agriculture Minister said.

Minister Caesar said there are collection points in the South Central Windward Constituency where persons can drop off their packages for the BVI.

“There are several pick up points in South Central Windward for Thursday morning before midday. Jim Bobb shop in Mt. Grenan, Tano shop in Diamond; the Learning Resource Center in Chapmans, Lennon Shotte/Paley Shotte residence in Long Piece,… the Vincy Fresh facility in Lauders, …the Clinic in Lowmans and for Greiggs we going to have a collection point at RASFARCO (Rastafarian Progressive multi-purpose society limited) office, next to the playing field.”

Minister Caesar said he is aware that persons throughout the country are organizing and added that it will be good if Community groups can organize collection points where persons can drop off their packages for the BVI, otherwise persons will have to go to the Geest Shed.

“I am also advising the community based organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), also the farmers co-operatives to see if they can have a meeting within the next 24 hours and see how they could assist the process in bringing stuff to the collection point and contact the Ministry of Agriculture for transportation for assistance in transportation to the Geest Shed,” Minister Caesar said.

“We have to remember that St. Vincent and the Grenadines has a large population of our citizens in the British Virgin Islands and I’m already feeling the love and the benevolence towards the relief efforts,” he added.

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