Three months after torrential rains and flooding devastated parts of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Christmas Day, assistance is still needed. To this end, CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank has contributed another $5,000 to the rebuilding effort there through the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Association of Barbados after assisting earlier in the year, just after the flooding.

The bank recently made a presentation to the association at the bank’s office at Rendezvous, Christ Church. Noel Adams, president of the association said the funds would be used to assist with the relocation of several families from areas including Buccament Bay and Vermont. “We are at a rebuilding stage now, so the priority is to buy building material such as blocks, cement, nails, galvanise sheets and steel. We have sent a few materials down there but are trying to get other materials purchased in St. Vincent and delivered directly.”

In describing the impact the assistance would have on the lives of persons in the affected communities, Adams said, “I know for sure it will bring a smile to their faces and let them know that there are people outside of St. Vincent and the Grenadines who care for them and that their CARICOM brothers are willing to help in a time of need. This assistance will definitely help them to get back on their feet quicker.”

Adams offered a heart-felt thanks to the bank, which operates in 17 Caribbean territories, saying, “I would like to say thank you from bottom of my heart and that we appreciate all the bank has done for the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We’ll continue to support CIBC FirstCaribbean throughout the region.”

Donna Wellington, CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Managing Director, Barbados, in presenting the funds, thanked the association for its commitment to rebuilding lives and said the bank was pleased to be able to partner with the association in doing so.

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Association of Barbados has been in existence for over 12 years and engages in programmes to bring the people of Barbados and St. Vincent together to foster greater cultural interactions between the two countries. It has several plans for 2014 including participating in the upcoming Oistins Fish Festival, hosting a cake sale to raise more funds to assist with the flood relief effort, as well as Independence celebrations in October.

In early January, the bank donated $100,000 EC for relief for persons trying to rebuild and recover following the passage of the weather system. The funds were donated through the bank’s CIBC FirstCaribbean ComTrust Foundation and went to towards securing much-needed items to distribute to people in St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, and Dominica.

Half of the funds, $50,000 EC, went towards ongoing relief efforts in St. Vincent, the most severely affected island, and was distributed among a number of projects, including supporting one of the relief shelters and providing supplies for school children whose homes were affected by the bad weather, so they could return to school after the Christmas holidays.