How volcanos can affect BVI & why we should sympathise with SVG
As the eruption of La Soufriere volcano continues to impact St Vincent and the Grenadines, Premier Andrew Fahie has said government is keen to fulfil its “humanitarian duty” and assist the country.
He gave that indication on the Umoja radio programme this week; saying St Vincent helped the BVI after the September 2017 hurricanes, so the territory wants to “repay” them in kind. Residents of the BVI are, therefore, waiting to hear exactly how the government will assist Vincentians.
But while some residents have expressed their willingness to assist and even house their Caribbean neighbours, other members of the BVI public have shunned the idea, saying the BVI cannot afford any additional problems at the moment.
And with no active volcanoes in the BVI, some residents have turned a blind eye to the happenings in St Vincent altogether. But should the BVI be concerned?
The answer is yes.
Carib’n scientists’ recent statements
Amid the eruption in St Vincent, Caribbean scientists have moved to assure leaders of the Eastern Caribbean that the ongoing eruption isn’t likely to trigger other active volcanoes in the region.
But why was that assurance even necessary?
The Eastern Caribbean — of which the BVI is a part — currently has 19 live volcanoes; meaning they are likely to erupt at any time.
And though the BVI has no volcanoes, it is subject to volcanic hazards such as severe ash fall and volcanically-generated tsunamis (depending on where volcanic activity takes place).
A volcanically and seismically active archipelago
Other non-volcanic islands — Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, most of the Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago — are also subject to volcanic hazards if a neighbouring volcanic island is affected.
Meanwhile, countries like Grenada, St Vincent, St Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Nevis, St Kitts, St Eustatius and Saba all have ‘live’ volcanic centres.
Therefore, though the BVI has no active volcanoes, La Soufriere is closer to home than some BVI residents may think as the Eastern Caribbean is a seismically active archipelago.
In the meantime, BVI News has received a few messages from residents of St Vincent, asking whether the territory will temporarily house residents of their country.
Special diplomatic relationship
Though this hasn’t been confirmed by the government, the idea isn’t far-fetched as the BVI and St Vincent share a special diplomatic relationship.
Currently, there are more than 2,000 Vincentian nationals presently in the BVI. St Vincent and the Grenadines also recently became the first CARICOM country to establish a consular office in the British Virgin Islands.
Bishop Ishmael Charles is St Vincent’s first honorary consul for the office.
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IT HAVE SO MANY ISLANDS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SVG, WHY THEY CANT GO THERE INSTEAD OF COMING SO FAR DOWN HERE?
JUST HUSH THE HOLE IN YOUR FACE.
the other islands are housing them, smh
It’s not down, it up.
I GUESS THEY JUST WANT TO COME TO THIS HOLY LAND TO GET BLESSED BY THE WHITE LADY
Wonder what is holy about here…you better watch your words.
my concern is the high unemployment in the bvi at present. our systems are very stressed at the moment. the schools are full from next week. our sewage system is very poor in most areas. the water supply is inadequate. some apartments are rented for four or five people but they have eight and nine. all hotels are closed .the charter industry almost to a standstill. working hours for many are shortened. joblessness is on full display in the bvi so the people have very valid concerns and we cannot be mad with them. if it wasn’t for those contracts given out by government to build those walls and roads I really don know what would have become of the expatriate work force. this is the government we need in times like these. we are still recovering from the 2017 storms and before we can recover the virus showed its ugly face.thanks premier fahie and his team including the medical experts and medical team to keep this island one of the safer place.Mr premier if you are going to allowed families to take in their love ones please have them vaccinated before or on arrival. I say on arrival because many Here refusing to be vaccinated so give it to who allowed and want to come because we would definitely have to send some of the vaccines back or give it to countries that need it. so consider these things before you make your decisions.
@ jobless.
And so it is with the other Caribbean countries, its everywhere not only BVI. So please stop acting like the BVI is the only country going through hardship. COVID has cause unprecedented outcomes.
The Grace of God is extended to all and we are experiencing his grace, we could have been worse off. So lets help others in need we never know if another catastrophe like Irma will ever strike again. Lets not be selfish.
All they hav to do is send a couple things and call it george
Yep u are so right
what difference does it make how far away they are – a two hour direct flight here vs a 30 minute flight to a closer island??
Your reasoning is not reasonable!
Well, Mr. Minister it sounds like you know we have capacity to help. Make sure that those of us housing our neighbors are paid by your government instead of wasting taxpayers dollars on products/services we can obtain at no cost – referencing those barges. Many of us do not mind helping – the problem is how long we can sustain helping them without no rental revenue. There is an opportunity cost involved.
the other islands ARE housing them, smh
We need to remember what it felt like during Hurricane Irma. Some born ya ran to other countries while others including vincentians stayed to rebuild these islands. If family members are willing to take up the responsibility to care for their love ones coming from St. Vincent, what is so wrong with that. God na like ugly. We soon approaching the hurricane season and dont know if we might need help again, so dont forget.
hush your tail…after the hurricane, all those countries sent in charter planes to pick up their citizens and left the bvislanders behind to fend for themselves…we stayed and built the bvi back to its glory in record time…WE WILL BUILD AND REBUILD
Your memory is short but time longer than rope.
Please take down that picture. It’s not of
st Vincent.
Secondly I hope the negative commenters haven’t forgotten 2017 , we here in the BVI received help from many countries etc . We can surely help others now too.
they do have a statement to say it is not SVG.
How sad it is that in time when St Vincent need assistant we are thinking about self, but I trust that God forgive us for our small mind in our thinking
Read the caption under the picture.
what about our own volcano called pockwood pond.
Seriously BVI what have you become? So many NIMBY’s which means Not in My BackYard. The miserable ones here probably call themselves Christians and act Pious at Church. I am sure the poor people who had to leave their homes with little notice don’t want to come here but if they have friends or family here that will look after them, it makes way more sense for them to come than be stuck in a shelter with nothing. The Caribbean is a region with the risk of Massive Disasters and helping each other is what we do or we risk not having a hand extended to save us when we are drowning.
The Virgin Islands can house no more! We are facing Financial Crisis and People are starving. Come on Humanity needs to start at Home.
THE BVI IS NOT THE PROMISED LAND
HAAHHAHAAHA THE BVI IS NOT THE PROMISE LAND BUT IF YOU ALL DONT WANT THEM PEOPLE HERE AT LEAST THEN SUPPOT THEM FINANCIALLY THEN OR LET THEM COME IS A VOLCANO JESUS! WHAT KIND OF BVISLANDER PEOPLE SAYING ? ARE SO CRUEL! PPEOLE DANMMM…