THE CONTINUAL eruption of La Soufrière Volcano is wreaking havoc on the lives of residents, in St Vincent and the Grenadines, many of whom had to evacuate the northern part of the island categorised as the Red Zone. The entire population is trying to cope with a myriad of issues, from the destruction of property, livestock and crops, the presence of volcanic ash which is dangerous to human health, disruptions in telecommunications services to contaminated water supplies. To this end, the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) has come to the aid of the people of St. Vincent with a donation of bottled water.

Upon liaising closely with Mr. Apollo Knights, the Secretary/Director of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, ECTEL’s Managing Director, Andrew Millet learned of the urgent need for water. Millet said on Monday that “ECTEL stands in solidarity with the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the face of the devastating eruptions from La Soufrière volcano. We cannot begin to comprehend the distress they must be feeling, having to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic, and now this natural phenomenon. The matter of further assistance to St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be discussed at the 41st Meeting of ECTEL’s Council of Ministers scheduled for Thursday April 22, 2021.”

The 24 pallets of water left St Lucia on Wednesday, April 14 and arrived in St.Vincent on Friday, April 16. Distribution to those most in need will be undertaken by the local NTRC, under the direction of Knights.

Considering the UWI Seismic Research Centre’s expectation that St. Vincent and the Grenadines will face regular eruptions of La Soufrière and ash fall over the coming weeks, ECTEL, through its Board of Directors and Council of Ministers, is committed to supporting the Government of SVG in its recovery and rehabilitation efforts.

ECTEL is the regulatory body advising the NTRC’s on Electronic Communications/ Telecommunications matters in its five member states of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.