(City of Belmopan, Belize; April 13, 2021.) The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC/5Cs) expresses its unwavering solidarity and well wishes to the Government and People of St Vincent and the Grenadines in the wake of the volcanic eruptions at La Soufriere that started on Friday, April 9 as well as to the Governments and people of Barbados and Saint Lucia, who are also being impacted from volcanic ashfall. 

Unfortunately, the devastation resulting from these volcanic episodes presents yet another challenge to our Region’s health, food, and socio-economic systems, while it is still battling with the gripping effects of COVID-19 and the debilitating effects of climate change.  

The CCCCC notes the coordination and mobilization of resources and efforts by Regional governments, Regional Agencies and Partners to provide relief and emergency aid to those affected. We encourage all our Caribbean citizens to continue supporting our sister-islands/countries of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, and Saint Lucia by providing donations and other assistance through nationally coordinated relief efforts. 

You can also pledge your contribution to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission’s coordinated initiative, the “Stronger Together Campaign: OECS Emergency Response for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines”.  See how to pledge here.  

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The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre coordinates the region’s response to climate change. Officially opened in August 2005, the Centre is the key node for information on climate change issues and the region’s response to managing and adapting to climate change. We maintain the Caribbean’s most extensive repository of information and data on climate change specific to the region, which in part enables us to provide climate change-related policy advice and guidelines to CARICOM member states through the CARICOM Secretariat. In this role, the Centre is recognized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United Nations Environment Programme, and other international agencies as the focal point for climate change issues in the Caribbean. The Centre is also a United Nations Institute for Training and Research recognised Centre of Excellence.  For more information, see www.caribbeanclimate.bz.

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