NDP to host trough relief ‘Radio-thon’

The New Democratic Party (NDP) will hold an all-day radio-thon broadcast on NICE Radio on Wednesday, December 7 as part of a national effort in the wake of the trough system that devastated parts of the country last week.

A release from the NDP said the party recognizes that “national recovery requires a national effort,” and it has set a goal of collecting $10,000 from the radio-thon that will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and continuing in the evening from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.{{more}}

In addition to money, the party is aiming to collect 1,000 items of clothing, 1,000 in non-perishable food items and 1,000 gallons of water to “directly aid all victims of the November troughs.”

“The relief radio-thon will feature live ex-tempo performances by Vincentian calypsonians, as well as appearances by NDP candidates and Parliamentarians. In the coming days, keep an eye out at supermarkets for official NDP collection bins for non-perishable food items.

The NDP encourages all willing and able Vincentians to participate in this collection effort, as proceeds shall be distributed to all victims, regardless of political affiliation. Similarly, all distribution volunteers are welcome aboard.

“The NDP shall publish the names of its official donation locations in due course. Please do not give to any unlisted entity claiming to be collecting for the NDP,” the release said.

“St Vincent and the Grenadines is marked by a physical landscape as stunning as it can be dangerous. In November 2016 alone, two trough systems, one on November 9 and a second on November 28 and 29, left in their wake an estimated 73 damaged or destroyed homes, 16 damaged bridges and roads, 15 landslides and the tragic loss of a 10-year-old boy. A second child, an eight-year-old boy, remains missing since November 9. Some 177 Vincentians are now living in temporary shelter.

“We must rebuild SVG together!” the release said.