NLA donates EC$100,000 to relief efforts

The National Lotteries Authority (NLA) has joined the large number of local and overseas entities who have donated to the relief efforts of St Vincent and the Grenadines.{{more}}

Yesterday, during a handover ceremony at Cabinet Room, the NLA presented Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and representatives from the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) with a cheque for $100,000.

Murray Bullock, chair of the NLA, expressed sympathy to persons who were affected in the recent floods. He also expressed condolences to those who lost their loved ones.

“I really empathize with them and encourage them to be steadfast and to keep the faith,” Bullock said.

The chair noted that the Prime Minister had the “Herculean task” of acquiring assistance, man power and the needed resources in order to bring normalcy to the lives of affected persons.

“It is in that light that the National Lotteries Authority, out of our slender resources, we have made the decision…that we are going to make a donation of EC$100,000 to the relief efforts,” he said.

In addition, Bullock revealed that the NLA hopes to launch a new scratch game, whose proceeds will go towards the relief efforts in this country.

“I am encouraging the whole of St Vincent and the Grenadines to support this relief effort. I do not need to impress upon people how necessary and urgent it is to get funds into the relief account, because I think we have all been briefed as to how extensive the damage to the country is,” the chair said. “I want to take this opportunity to encourage our customers across the length and breadth of St Vincent to support this effort…when it is launched. I am appealing to everybody to get involved and support the initiative, because there are people out there who desperately need our help”.

Gonsalves thanked the NLA for their contribution to the relief efforts and noted that many persons are also following suit in helping the nation to rebuild.

“Thus far with the blessings of Almighty God and the help of Vincentians of all walks of life, all organizations, people rich and poor, our Caricom partners and international agencies and governments that together, we have been able to ensure that the humanitarian relief challenge, which arose as an immediate consequence of the disaster, did not metamorphose…into a humanitarian relief disaster or crisis,” the Prime Minister said.

He also stated that recent contributions have come from the Mustique Company and that Coreas Hazells Ltd will be donating approximately $500,000 this week.

The money donated will be deposited into the St Vincent and the Grenadines Relief Fund account and it will be used for a variety of purposes, including the purchasing of food and items related to meeting the immediate needs of persons affected by the disaster.(BK)