Gonsalves sends personal funds to Vincentian students in Jamaica
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, (CMC) — Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves says he sent EC$15,500 (approximately $900,000) of his personal funds to St Vincent and the Grenadines students in Jamaica following the passage of Hurricane Melissa late last month.
Gonsalves, campaigning for the November 27 General Election, told a ‘North Star’ rally of his ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) over the weekend that his contribution is in contrast to an earlier pledge by Opposition Leader Dr Godwin Friday to help students from the Southern Grenadines, who were impacted by Hurricane Beryl on July 1, 2024.
“Ask Friday about his money way he promised students,” Gonsalves said, referring to the EC$100,000 that the main Opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) said it would raise for the students.
Friday said that people had made pledges to the effort but some of them did not follow through. But he claimed to have matched the amount raised and it was distributed equally among the students. But he did not disclose the amount of money given.
“Let me tell you something. Friday cheap like a church mouse; that’s a cheap man,” Gonsalves told party supporters.
“Let me tell you this. I don’t like to boast about things, but for young people, I will mention this,” Gonsalves said, adding that Jamaica is in “turmoil” following the impact of Hurricane Melissa in late October.
“We have 200 and something students there. And I asked the leadership of the student body, the Vincentian Student Association…to tell me if any of the students need any special help, and what they need right away,” said Gonsalves.
He said he received last Thursday evening a letter indicating that 31 students needed help. “And the student organisation say they need the help right away, if they go get EC$500 for each of those 31. So that could tide them over for a couple of weeks with food until we can replenish more,” added Gonsalves.
The prime minister said the Government would have taken a few days to send the money to Jamaica, “because you have to sign this piece of paper, you have signed that piece of paper.
“Friday morning, I call my banker and tell him to send the $15,500, which is 31 by 500 to the account of the Vincentian Students Association,” Gonsalves said.
