by Linda Straker
- Non-traditional international travel routes for medical supplies to arrive safely
- Venezuela providing logistical support
- Cuba and China contributed medical supplies and personnel
Health Minister, Nickolas Steele, said that Grenada is using non-traditional international travel routes to have medical supplies for Covid-19 arrive safely on the island. As part of that strategy, Venezuela is one of the countries contributing to this humanitarian measure.
“Venezuela has been providing logistical support,” Steele said in a news conference on Thursday, informing journalists that a Venezuelan aircraft is scheduled to arrive at Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA) with more testing equipment. “This is the second time that they have been providing general logistics for us, but not just us, but for other islands in the OECS.” He named Dominica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines as among the other islands who have benefitted from the humanitarian vesture offered by the Government of Venezuela.
International travel via both land and sea has significantly reduced because of the Covid-19 pandemic and that has caused countries worldwide to explore and use other measures for medical supplies and food to arrive at intended destinations.
Explaining that the logistics for medical supplies arrive to on island is now one of Grenada’s biggest challenges, Steele said that the non-traditional route involves the services of the Venezuelan aircraft.
“In the last week, this has been one of our biggest challenges. A lot of our equipment is procured. We have been fortunate enough to avoid equipment in the USA still but in order to get it here we have had to find non-traditional ways and that is where we have to thank the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” he told journalists who participated in the virtual news conference.
As part of continuously improving the island’s ability to fight the Covid-19 contagion, Grenada recently became capable to test for the virus on island through an arrangement with St George’s University, WINDREF – the university’s Research Department; the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and PAHO.
The Ministry of Health and the administrators of the General Hospital began using a specially prepared 10-bed isolation unit for patients who will require hospital care. The health minister also reported that appointed ambassadors around the world for Grenada, several private sector persons and corporate bodies are also contributing to the cause, while Cuba and China have contributed medical supplies and personnel. “It is because of them that we are at this level of preparedness and ability to deal with the threat.” Steele said that Grenada, which presently has 12 confirmed cases, 3 of whom are hospitalised, but in stable condition is “not out of the woods.”
Some developed nations such as Germany and France countries and Caribbean members including Barbados, have also accused the US government of engaging in buying out medical supplies while on route for the intended destination, by offering double and triple the price or seizing them by enforcing a clause under the USA Defence Production Act.
@Mirna
You only know who your true friends are when in trouble – as the old saying goes.
This crisis is showing that US is nobody’s friend, not even Germany, their NATO ally, whom they robbed of supplies coming from China! US has no friends, only interests! The world should know that.
Venezuela is not narco-trafficer as US would
like to paint this country in an effort to demonize it and justify criminal aggression. Colombia is, but that’s US ally now so even narco-trafficing is OK.
Thank you Venezuela, thank you President Maduro.
I have seen Venezuela on other news media not the ones that connected to the west and America.
you’ll be surprised to know what is actually going on in Venezuela. Venezuelan problems came from Libya,
When the west bombed Libya, Libya had Western equipment and could not use it equipment to defend itself, Saudi Arabia was one of the countries that saw that and bought Russian s400 system.
The American dollar is based on Saudi Arabian oil and that’s where the problem for Venezuela comes from it all started underneath Obama
The problem with that story it’s not 100-percent true that is what the Western media is actually putting out but I’ve seen Venezuela on other channels and I’m quite surprised that’s it is not true
Venezuelan government is recieving virus medicals from China and Russia through.same supply channels, and for its part is voluntarily ferrying what portions that were ordered by those island nations.
Venezuela retains thei portion they paid for, The problem is Fed X and UPS have delivery trucks not Boats.
Supplies come in on supersize cargo planes, and instead of those huge birds hopping from one island, then next, then next, Venezuelan small planes deliver.
When one looks at how all the peoples and nations that surround Venezuela are in fact part of US Governments War upon peoples of Venezuela,, there is a time during war when compassion must wait until after those who are trying to kill you quit trying.
It will come as no surprise that butt kissers have acces, private jets from Venezuela wealthy can fly into US.
In US money comes first, way before any but own peoples they need, and.and politics means allies, so nations Ambassadors most willing to sell out own people do get some help.
Case in point was US just recently outbidding any and all European bidders for supplies, and then off loading them, onto US planes that flew direct to Israel, all at US taxpayers expence.
But what can you expect when every Federal elected or appointed, , top educator and media firm s, appointed owes Israel and its massive US Jewish Lobby groups for theiri income and jobs.
All this while US medical Professionals do not have enough protection for themselves, and citizens are using cloth rags as mask.
Trump and his cabinet of orporate cronies are making billions while endangering US people, especially medical, are dying and suffering
Truth of matter is there are only 5 or 6 nations in world forming freedoms and Liberty on their own terms but none are in Europe.
For since end of WWII they are but vassel states of US and until to
Content during times of plenty who like pampered pups l under tables get treats; but now as SHTF , they squabble for whatever leftovers and scraps their master lets them have.
From Venezuela?!! I’m beyond baffled!
When you are trying to do what’s best for your nation and you need goods and medical supplies then needs must! The US has the might to hijack goods and medical supplies and use the exact same reason for doing so. Am not sure what the solution is to all this but I am grateful.something is being done for Grenadians. It seems none is willing to share as the situation becomes more desperate!! Sad.
Dam if u do, dam if you dont..if you or any member of your family had or become infected then it would not be a problem. Hyproctites. At this point in time we are grateful that we are getting some type of help.thanks minister Steele. I have my entire family living in grenada so I appreciate what help he can.
@marcorubiosen @Realdonaldtrump
It’ s unacceptable that Grenada is getting the supplies and all the help that our country Vzla. is missing, is deprived of all that basics due to the Narcoterrorism, the Usurper Maduro is giving to them freely. I think that they have to return it to ó ur people, they are starved and they don’t have the basic things to live.
If you sleep with dogs that have fleas you will get fleas. The Chinese workers that have infiltrated Grenada probably brought a virus with them. This is the same scenario that happened in Italy and Iran.
If you’re paying attention to the Grenada News you would know that it was an English woman that brought that brought it in typical 9 formed people
Hypocrits, using the supplies that Venezuelan people can’t reach either because the regime that is usurped for Maduro is giving what the country is not having. That’s unacceptable!
I have seen Grenada on other news medias not the ones that connected to the west and America and you’ll be surprised to know what is actually going on in Venezuela Venezuelan problems came from Libya Wembley bills bombed Libya had Western equipment and could not defend itself so the Arabia saw that and but rushing equipment American dollar is based on Saudi Arabian oil and that’s where the problem for Venezuela comes from it all started underneath Obama