Thousands rally with ULP at Chateaubelair

In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Erika, which has left more than 20 persons dead in Dominica, this country will send, among other things, Bailey bridges and monetary contributions to aid with recovery efforts.

“…Dominica is suffering and we have to help them,” Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves told party supporters in the North Leeward constituency of Chateaubelair{{more}} on Sunday night, at a campaign rally of the Unity Labour Party.

The Prime Minister said that he and Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Urban Development Julian Francis have already spoken to Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit about the situation.

“I gave certain advice. He’s a good leader, Roosevelt Skeritt, my very good friend and we shared ideas on some things to be done,” Gonsalves said.

The Prime Minister noted that this country, through the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), is arranging to send medical personnel to Dominica.

“I talked to a senior engineer in the Ministry of Works — he and the chief engineer — they suppose to give me an inventory to see if we can send some Bailey bridges for them, because we have some in stock,” Gonsalves said.

He explained that three of these bridges are needed to provide temporary crossings at Byera, Cumberland and Mt Young.

“We have a few more in stock and we will have to give our comrades in Dominica a few Bailey bridges,” Gonsalves said.

The Prime Minister said he has also spoken to the CEO of the Eastern Caribbean Group of Companies (ECGC), which will be sending to Dominica flour, rice and animal feed from its associate company in Guyana.

He said that the Foreign Affairs Minister, Camillo Gonsalves, is currently engaged in putting together a cultural rally to raise funds.

“The last time when he worked with other persons in the entertainment field, we raised about $200,000. I am hoping that we can do more than that this time and package it very attractively.”

Gonsalves also used the opportunity to ask the local Football Federation to collect a special donation on Friday, September 4, when this country engages Aruba in a World Cup qualifying match at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

“I believe that we should have a special collection at that game for the people of Dominica. There are other things I would announce as the time goes by” Gonsalves said.

More than 50 people are still reported missing in the wake of the passage of the tropical storm. (KW)