PM Roosevelt Skerrit pledges support of $1,000,000 to SVG during his tour

Roseau, Dominica: Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Dr Roosevelt Skerrit pledged a contribution of $1,000,000 to St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to help with recovery efforts following the devastation created in the island nation due to Hurricane Beryl.

The announcement of the contribution was made by the PM during his participation in a press conference at the Argyle International Airport alongside Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Notably, PM Skerrit visited St Vincent and the Grenadines along with the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis – Dr. Terrance Drew and the Prime Minister of St. Lucia Philip J. Pierre to tour the affected areas in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.

PM Skerrit addressed everyone during his visit and expressed dissatisfaction with the international community and developed world for their reluctance to take on their responsibility in a serious manner. He asserted that they have been constantly speaking about the issue of climate change and its negative impact on the society.

The leader of the nation remarked that such established nations need to understand that how the small island developing states feel as a society and as a people when hurricanes like this affect them and disturbs their entire livelihood. While shedding light on the current situation, PM Skerrit noted that this is a war that is taking place but they are not provoking the war but still suffering its consequences.

PM Skerrit asserted that “he has no difficulty if a country decides that it wants to mobilize billions of dollars for Ukraine, which is fighting a war but what about us who are subject to a war that we did not even provoke?” He raised a concern and a question to all those established nations that how St Vincent and the Grenadines would able to mobilize the resources which is required to restore their lives and livelihoods.

While expressing dissatisfaction, PM Skerrit noted that every time they make efforts to advance their respective nation towards growth and development, they are pulled back five, six, seven, eight, or nine steps. He stressed light on his point by giving an example of Dominica and stated that 85% of their debt has been in their books in response to natural disasters and to replace damaged infrastructures.

Also, the Prime Minister pointed out that the issue of climate change and its impact is affecting every one of them. “But we are not hearing the voices of advocacy from the various sectors of the society, not from the private sector, not from civil society, and not from the church in a consistent manner,” noted PM Roosevelt Skerrit.

He therefore, added that it is an opportunity for all the countrymen to rally around their advocacy and call on international community to fulfil their promises. The Prime Minister also shared some noteworthy examples when promises were made by the developed nations but they failed to fulfil it. He shared that over 16 years ago, they went to Copenhagen and promises were made there and not $1 has been delivered from Copenhagen.

He further recalled that they were in Paris in 2015, and they arrived at an accord, and within that accord, there were promises made, but they have not seen any of them fulfilled. Therefore, he asked all the citizens that they have an opportunity to go to the international community because the climate injustice is akin to slavery and the injustices of slavery at the time.

Moreover, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit extends support to the government and people of St Vincent and the Grenadines and stated that it is the time that they have to stick together even more closely because it’s a collective fight.

“And, we must have collective efforts and collective solidarity.”