BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN its commitment to assist neighbouring islands affected by the passage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has pledged financial and other support.
Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, in a televised address to the nation, explained that notwithstanding the country’s fiscal challenges of treating with recovery efforts, Cabinet on Friday (Sept.22) approved “some measure of monetary support to our neighbours”.
According to Dr. Harris, Dominica would be given EC$1M, the British Virgin Islands EC$500,000, Anguilla EC$400,000, Antigua and Barbuda EC$400,000 and St. Maarten EC$200,000.
In the case of Dominica, Dr. Harris noted that his government had declined an EC$ 500,000 pledged by the government on that island to assist St. Kitts and Nevis in its recovery efforts from the passage of Hurricane Irma.
“This sum was never received,” Dr. Harris emphasized. “We nonetheless thank Prime Minister Skerrit for his kind consideration.”
PM Harris took the opportunity to pledge the support of his government and the people of St. Kitts and Nevis to the Commonwealth of Dominica.
He explained that he and his Cabinet reached out to PM Skerrit and his government - the same courtesy extended to Anguilla and the other affected islands.
Further, he disclosed that the government has offered the use of the RLB International Airport as a staging platform for relief efforts into Dominica in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
“In addition to this, all four hospitals on St. Kitts and Nevis will be made available should the need for health services be required. Places will also be made available to accommodate displaced students in Dominica who are registered for upcoming CXC exams. They will be offered free enrolment into our schools until their own high schools are ready to accommodate them. Furthermore, our Federation will assist in the restoration of electricity supply to Dominica, and our Coast Guard vessels will assist with transportation where possible,” Dr. Harris said.
St. Kitts and Nevis, like many other countries in the Caribbean, has pledged monetary and other contributions to assist those islands affected by the passage of the two hurricanes.
Dominica has been devastated by the powerful Category 5 storm which has so far left 27 dead and a large number of people missing.
