THE LOCALLY-BASED East Caribbean Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventist Churches has donated BDS$17 000 to St Vincent and St Lucia which were impacted by floods on Christmas Eve.
This is in addition to the US$15 000 contribution to the relief effort provided by the Trinidad and Tobago-based Caribbean Union of Seventh-Day Adventists.
This was revealed yesterday by Pastor Haldaine Greaves, the assistant personal ministries and community services director of the conference.
Speaking at the conference’s headquarters at Bryden’s Avenue, Brittons Hill, St Michael, Greaves said that BDS$7 000 of the donation would go to St Lucia, while St Vincent and the Grenadines would receive the remaining BDS$10 000.
“Apart from the funds donated, we are also in the process of gathering foodstuff, clothes and other items for those affected by the recent floods that created lots of damage in those islands mentioned, and also Dominica. Very shortly we will send those items to the affected islands,” said Greaves.
Conference president Pastor Danforth Francis added: “The Caribbean Union of SDA based in Trinidad and Tobago has also contributed US$15 000 for the relief project, and the SDA churches in the islands affected are also involved in counselling with those who have lost loved ones, their homes and other losses.
“We are actively involved in feeding programmes in the affected islands and are assisting in any way they can to help with the rebuilding process.”
The president explained the conference was able to respond this quickly as they had a programme in place for this purpose.
“Each year, between January and March, the SDA churches in Barbados conduct an in-gathering programme where its members collect funds from the general public and these funds are there ready and available in case of a disaster in Barbados and any other place where needs arise,” said Francis.
Further funds will be collected next Saturday, January 11, at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, during a national SDA convention. These will be passed on to the affected islands.
(RL)
