Troops from the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force along with other humanitarian representatives boarded the Galleon’s Passage of Tuesday morning, beginning a journey to St. Vincent and the Grenadines to offer on the ground assistance in wake of volcanic activity at La Soufriere. 

The humanitarian aid trip is expect to arrive in the CARICOM nation on Tuesday evening. 

Speaking ahead of the departure of the vessel at around 5:30am, National Security Minister Stuart Young thanked the 50 Defence Force Members who have stepped up to offer aid, pointing out that many of the soldiers left families behind to head into a “danger zone”.

“I’d like to thank you all. Starting with your Acting Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier General Francis,  to all of the other officers who have made this possible. To the men and women, 50 of you, 50 plus, whoa re going to make this journey…As a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago I am very proud. As the Minister of National Security I thank you on behalf of your fellow citizens because as usual you’ve risen to the occasion.” 

Recalling a similar exercise to the Bahamas in 2019 following the wake of Hurricane Dorian, Minister Young said there was an added layer of risk to the officers this time around- given the pandemic is still ongoing.

The trip is expected to be an initial two weeks, but Minister Young said due to the fluidity of the situation it was quite possible this could change. 

He called on the soldiers, and other humanitarian staff traveling to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, to do their best.

“You are going into, I don’t know how to term it, a zone that is not a normal zone…When you are there, do not disappoint us. Continue to, every minute of the day and night, remember you’re representing the Red, White and Black,” he said. 

Forty T&T nationals who are currently in St. Vincent and the Grenadines will return on the Galleon’s Passage when it begins its journey back to Trinidad.