Taiwan gives $1.5 million to assist with SVG flood relief
St. Vincent and the Grenadines has received a cheque valued EC$1.5 million (US$500, 000) from Taiwan to assist with the ongoing clean up and refurbishing effort, following a trough system which affected this country on April 12.{{more}}
Taiwanâs Ambassador to St.Vincent and the Grenadines His Excellency Weber Shih presented the cheque to Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves on Tuesday, May 3.
Gonsalves said the cheque was the first portion of a promised US$2 million in relation to the reconstruction efforts following the natural disaster.
He announced a further US$1.5 million is also expected, but will be used on specific infrastructural projects.
Gonsalves expressed his gratitude to the government and people of Taiwan for their assistance at this period, which he said had been a âtime of real needâ as St. Vincent had suffered back to back natural disasters.
Shih said his government understood the pain experienced by Vincentians at this time, as Taiwan had also been impacted by natural disasters.
He said that following discussions with Gonsalves after the disaster, a decision had been taken by his government to postpone some of its projects and mobilize US$2 million for reconstruction needed by this country.
âA friend in need is a friend in deed,â he said.
Ambassador Shih used the opportunity to urge the international community to provide this country with all possible assistance needed to cope with the challenges of global warming.
The torrential rains dumped more than two inches of rain on this country and left tens of millions of dollars in damage.
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