Across our Region
Seventh-day Adventist Response to Flood Disaster in St Vincent
Recent freak flood in Georgetown, St Vincent, resulting from unseasonal rain, left over 40 houses inundated by water, displacing 200 residents and causing severe damages to road and bridge infrastructure, sea and river defenses and disrupting the water supply. It is reported that 12 inches of rain fell in the disaster area within a six hour period. A massive clean up operation lead by just over 500 workers from several Government agencies as well as volunteers from the community sprang into operation to help in relief and restoration works. Approximately 100 persons are currently living in shelters having lost everything in their possession.
Since April 12, the day of the disaster, the church both locally and nationally have been responding from several fronts with acts of compassion, kindness and solidarity.
The following are note worthy.
- Bro. Gustin Nero and his family of Magum, Sandy Bay church have been transporting water with his truck from Overland every other day to the communities of New Chapmans and Langley Park.
- On Thursday April 21 the SVG Region donated toiletries as well as 6 water tanks that can hold 4,800 gallons of water to NEMO which were placed strategically in the affected communities.
- On Thursday April 28, the Community Services department prepared, packaged and distributed over 700 lunch boxes to residents of the shelter and to all those who are involved in the clean up and restoration works.
Speaking at different ceremonies to hand over the tanks and distribute the lunches the Coordinator of the Region, Pastor Dermoth Baptiste emphasized the fact that the SDA church considers it a joy to fulfill its Christian obligation to touch lives, meet needs and bring relief to those who have been affected by disasters. He further stressed that disasters know no barriers or boundaries and can strike at any moment in a revolting world; hence the need at all times to collaborate and network with all agencies to satisfy human needs.
The Hon Montgomery Daniel, Minister of Agriculture, Hon Maxwell Charles, Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs, Acting Director of NEMO, Miss Michelle Forbes and other Pastors and Leaders of the Region were on hand to witness the handing over of the tanks. In accepting the gift Minister Daniel praised the Church for its kindness and stated that it came at a time when 25,000 people were affected by not having their regular water supply. Miss Forbes also commended the church for its act of selflessness and call on other organizations to be of similar mind.
The distribution of the lunches was coordinated by the Community Services in association with NEMO and was done from the Georgetown SDA church. Representatives from the various categories of workers and volunteers and the shelter manager were on hand to receive the lunches which were taken by vehicles to the different sites where the clean up work is taking place. Those who received the lunches were touched by the act of compassion as manifested by the church.
A call has come to the church for Bibles, household articles (sheets, mattresses, detergents, toiletries etc) and kitchen utensils (pots, plates, spoons, cups, glasses, forks, bowl etc) for the benefit of all those who lost everything in the flood waters. Anyone wishing to contribute to these items can do so through the Community Services units in the respective churches or at the Region’s office at Old Montrose, Kingstown, Box 60, St Vincent and the Grenadines, tel# 1784-485-6739, email, svgregion@gmail.com. It is the plan to make other responses with the cleaning and retrofitting of one or two houses.
Pastor Baptiste worshipped with the brethren at the Georgetown church on the Sabbath following the disaster where he presented a message of encouragement and hope to the brethren. The church must seize every conceivable opportunity to demonstrate practical Christianity in its myriad of ways, not for the glory of man but for the building up of the Kingdom of God. “In as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto Me”
Appreciation and thanks have been expressed to all those churches and members who participated in the above responses.
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