SVG Coastguard and Rotary Club South spread Christmas cheer

More than 40 families on the southern Grenadine island of Canouan should this year, have a brighter Christmas season, following the donation last Thursday, of 40 food baskets from the SVG Coastguard, in collaboration with the Rotary Club South.{{more}}

Members of both organisations travelled to Canouan on board a coastguard vessel to bring a cheer to the residents of the tiny island.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, which took place at the Canouan Clinic, Lieutenant Enos Hamlette said the donation is the Coastguard’s way of giving back to the community.

“We are elated here today. We look forward to a time like today when we can give back to those in the community who are in need,” Hamlette told the residents.

He said the initiative, in which they choose various communities to carry out charitable work, has been ongoing for the past 22 years.

“These folks here, who are in need, would have a little bit more on their table for a season like this. We are really happy to be doing this,” Hamlette stated.

He added it is by no means “looking down” on persons, stating that in any society, there would always be different classes of people, some who may need more help than others.

Representative of the Rotary Club St Vincent South, Grenville Williams, expressed pleasure in partnering with the Coastguard in the initiative.

Williams, who is also head of the Financial Intelligence Unit, said persons should be seeking to live a worthy life by ensuring that other persons are not ignored and that their needs are met.

“This is Christmas and one of the things for me, if there is no other time, that we show each other a spirit of fulfilment and a sprit of generosity…,” he stated.

Williams urged the residents to keep Jesus at the centre of the season and wished them a prosperous new year.

As a show of appreciation, two of the recipients recited a poem, which was well received by all gathered.

Staff nurse Eustacia McLauren thanked the organisations for sharing with them and remembering the people of the Grenadines.

The visitors from the mainland spent time with the residents, engaging in small talk as they ate and drank.(KW)