‘Irresponsible’
Grenadian PM slams Vincentian PM’s food-shopping invitation
12 Number of confirmed cases in St Vincent and the Grenadines
14 Number of confirmed cases in Grenada
GRENADIAN PRIME Minister Dr Keith Mitchell has described as irresponsible an invitation from his counterpart in St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, for people from the Grenadine islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique to go shopping for food and gas on Union island, which is governed by St Vincent and the Grenadines.
“... I want to say to the people of Carriacou and
Petite Martinique that if you are having difficulties getting food, we can help because we have a lot of it in Union island and you could get to
Union island. I want to tell our brothers and sisters that; and if you want to get cooking gas, we can help you, but let us do it in a structured and organised manner,”
Gonsalves said at a ceremony on Friday, during which he accepted a medical donation from
Venezuela.
But just hours after
Gonsalves extended the invitation, Mitchell expressed alarm.
“It is alarming that our citizens will be called upon to break the law by the leader of another country. It is a grossly irresponsible action that has the potential for not only legal consequences, but also pose a significant threat to public health and public safety.”
He added; “My fellow Grenadians, particularly our brothers and sisters in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, do not be misguided into flouting the law of the land; do not knowingly endanger your health and that of your family. I encourage you to think and act wisely. There is no shortage of food, and we are continuously revising our operations to ensure that we optimise the distribution of goods and restocking of grocery stores.”
During a news conference last Monday, Mitchell had expressed his concern about the decision by the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines to keep its borders open, while other countries in the region have closed their borders as part of the strategy to combat the pandemic.