Ministry of Agriculture gets equipment for on-going volcano clean up work

THE Ministry of Agriculture through the World Bank funded Volcano Eruption Emergency Project (VEEP), on July 19, 2024, received a quantity of supplies and equipment for use in the general volcanic clean-up in affected mountainous areas.

The equipment, which was received by Permanent Secretary, Nerissa Gittens, comprised: 40 cutlass files, 10 gas and oil jugs, 65 hard hat safety helmets, 30 flagging tapes, 100 rain ponchos, six axes, two mechanic tool sets, two box end wrench sets (SAE), and two 55-gallon drum gasoline transfer pumps, a release from the VEEP project states.

On February 13, this year, the Ministry of Agriculture also received eight rope pullers, 10 one-gallon containers of orange tree marking paint, two portable gas winches, and four chainsaws with safety equipment such as gloves, bar covers, and other accessories.

The items totalled EC$346,046.99.

This initiative aims to support the rehabilitation of work by the ministry’s Forestry Division with the necessary tools to help address the urgent needs of areas in the volcano designated red zone.

The Volcanic Eruption Emergency Project (VEEP) was designed to address the immediate and long-term needs arising from the volcanic eruptions of 2021, and focuses on enhancing disaster resilience, restoring livelihoods, and rehabilitating critical infrastructure.