SVG Distillers donates $50,000 for restoration of Caratal bridge

SVG Distillers, the sole rum distillery here, has donated $50,000 towards the restoration of the Caratal bridge which collapsed during the Christmas Eve flood after first being damaged in the April 2011 floods.{{more}}

Export promotion manager and public relations officer of SVG Distillers, Phillipa Greaves handed over the cheque to Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves. Greaves was accompanied by chairman of the board of directors of SVG Distillers Nigel Greaves.

Prime Minister Gonsalves expressed gratitude to SVG Distillers for its contribution. “I want to thank the Greaves family and SVG Distillers, and in particular Nigel who made the initial call, for making the contribution,” Dr Gonsalves said. He noted that a project had been put in place to rebuild the damaged bridge, but now the scope of work has to be altered since the bridge is now completely destroyed.

Dr Gonsalves noted that the bridge is critical to production. It is used to get inputs across to the distillery in Mt Bentinck, to facilitate the transportation of Rabacca stuff for the construction industry and to move substantial quantities of the materials for the spray plane to further curtail the spread of the Black Sigotoka disease.

The Prime Minister said he had spoken with the French ambassador to have Bailey bridges brought in on the French vessel which is scheduled to arrive here next Friday. Gonsalves said SVG Distillers’ contribution will go towards the installation of the Bailey bridges so that heavy vehicles will be able to pass.

SVG Distillers export promotion manager and public relations officer Phillipa Greaves said the company is aware of the hardships caused by the flood, which resulted in widespread damage to houses, roads and crops, and as a responsible corporate citizen, it saw the need to answer the call of the people.