Press Release:- On Friday, April 16 2021, Sunshine Angel left St Vincent with a three man crew to pick up items from St Lucia to assist the displaced persons in St Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) as a result of the volcanic eruption.
Generous donations were made by the Goodwill Fishermen’s Co-operative and its members and the fishing and corporate community, to assist fellow Fisherfolk and residents of neighboring St Vincent.
The individuals: Mac Clement St Rose, St Lucian fisherman and boat owner residing in SVG,
Winsbert Harry Chairperson of the St Vincent Fisherfolk Association and Deputy Chair of the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Association and Cafu Guy a SVG Fisher were elated to receive the items on Friday evening shortly after they completed Customs clearance.
The crew set off on the morning of Saturday, April 17 en route to SVG but encountered issues that resulted in the boat sinking.
The crew then had to abandon ship and seek to save themselves.
As they set off to swim to land, they were rescued by a passing fishing vessel from a neighbouring community.
Their tenacity and selflessness overpowered their current situation as having arrived at the Vieux Fort forcing port/ pond they sought assistance from colleagues and set back out in an attempt to salvage what they could as it related to the supplies.
Unfortunately, after a few hours, they returned, not having been able to retrieve anything
much.
Though grateful to be alive, Winsbert Harry was disappointed that he would not be returning home with the much needed supplies for his family and Fisherfolk.
“I was so grateful for the outpouring of love we received from our St Lucian counterparts. We had been without water from since the eruption and I was glad that we had gotten enough for a while from our friends here”, an emotional Winsbert said to Kaygianna Toussaint Charlery, Operations Manager for the Goodwill Fishermen’s Co-operative and Administrative Assistant to St Lucia Fisherfolk who had coordinated the drive.
Through the help of the Marine Unit, the crew were able to return to SVG on Saturday evening on board the Jaden Sun.
Charlery reports that they are still in good spirits and she’s kept in contact with them since their return.
She pledges to continue her effort to start off again in the collection of supplies.
She extends thanks to the Board and members of Goodwill, others from the fishing community, Southwell Supermarket and all other persons and business places who
donated generously during last week and urges others to play their part as little as they can to continue with the drive.
” I also take this opportunity to thank all those who have reached out from Saturday to assist, check on their well being, called, prayed, pledged further support. It was indeed a labour of love that brought us to where we are today and we are grateful. Many persons who had not yet made a contribution last week and those who are willing to repeat the generosity, including the MP Dr Kenny Anthony, have reached out and so we are hoping that we can double the effort this time around”.
We are also pleased to announce that some of the items which have so far been retrieved, have been sent to SVG.
