In the wake of catastrophic twin earthquakes that tore through north-central Venezuela on June 24, regional unity has come to life as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) — with meaningful participation from St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and seven other member states — has completed a major humanitarian relief operation to support recovery efforts.
The devastating seismic event, measured at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 respectively, left an unprecedented trail of destruction across the affected region. Official and United Nations figures confirm more than 4,800 confirmed deaths, thousands of unaccounted-for missing people, nearly 17,000 injured people requiring urgent medical treatment, and more than 18,000 displaced residents who lost their homes and now live in overcrowded temporary camps. In response to this humanitarian crisis, CARICOM organized a collective regional aid shipment that delivered 88 containers of critical supplies to the Venezuelan port of La Guaira.
The relief cargo covers the most urgent needs of earthquake-impacted communities: staple food supplies for displaced populations, essential prescription and emergency medications for overwhelmed medical facilities, construction materials to repair damaged infrastructure and temporary shelters, heavy equipment for clearing earthquake rubble, and 300 large-capacity water tanks to address disrupted access to safe drinking water. Alongside SVG, contributing nations include Guyana, Grenada, Belize, The Bahamas, Jamaica, and St. Kitts and Nevis, with additional backing from other CARICOM member states to round out the regional initiative.
In remarks affirming SVG’s commitment to the effort, Prime Minister Godwin Friday drew on the country’s own firsthand experience with natural disasters to frame the mission. “We have faced our own difficult times, and we know how much it means to have friends and neighbours stand with you when you need them most,” Friday said. “So, we stand with our CARICOM partners and extend a helping hand to the people of Venezuela. We hope this contribution will bring comfort and support to families and communities working to recover and rebuild.”
SVG’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, emphasized that the coordinated response reflects the core values that bind Caribbean nations together. “When our neighbours face hardship, we must be prepared to stand together and respond. This humanitarian effort demonstrates what we can achieve through regional cooperation and collective action,” Bramble said. “St. Vincent and the Grenadines is pleased to contribute to this CARICOM initiative and to stand with the Government and people of Venezuela during this difficult period.”
On Venezuela’s side, senior government officials formally received the shipment on behalf of the country’s government and public. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil accepted the aid alongside Vice Minister for the Caribbean Raúl Li Causi, while Interim President Delcy Rodríguez extended formal gratitude to all participating CARICOM leaders, specifically asking for her appreciation to be passed to Prime Minister Friday and the people of SVG. Gil echoed Rodríguez’s thanks, describing CARICOM as a consistent and reliable ally whose solidarity illustrates the power of regional collaboration during moments of crisis.
In a closing statement in a public press release, the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to regional solidarity and collaborative disaster response. “The government of St Vincent and the Grenadines remains committed to regional solidarity and cooperation, particularly in times of crisis and natural disaster,” the release said.