Eighty-eight containers of relief supplies, along with 300 black tanks and two pieces of heavy earth-moving equipment, were dispatched from the BK Wharf at Kingston, Georgetown, to Caracas, Venezuela, on a ship that set sail on Tuesday evening.

The supplies, comprising food items, medical equipment and other aid, were contributed by Guyana and seven other CARICOM countries ‒ Belize, The Bahamas, St Lucia, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadines ‒ for Venezuela, which was struck by a devastating earthquake on 24 June.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Dr Ashni Singh oversaw the dispatchment on behalf of President Dr Irfaan Ali. The earthquake caused widespread destruction and loss of life. Following the disaster, President Ali had immediately conveyed his sympathy and mobilised a national and regional relief effort.

Singh said the shipment reflected contributions from the Guyanese private sector, citizens, and Venezuelan citizens living in Guyana, as well as from the seven participating CARICOM member states. He thanked all contributors on the President's behalf.

"Venezuela is our neighbour, the Venezuelan people are our neighbours, and so we consider this to be the least that we could do as a country in this moment of tragedy in support of our Venezuelan brothers and sisters," Singh said.
The ship is expected to reach Venezuela within four days of departing Guyana.

Singh said Guyana was in close contact with United States counterparts on the ground in Venezuela, and that the supplies would be handed to the US team for consolidation into the wider humanitarian effort.

He conveyed condolences to families of those who died and wished a speedy recovery to the injured, and reaffirmed the Government's commitment to standing with Venezuela during this period.