By Ruby Robinson Commission Services Officer, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States & Alisha Ally Communications Specialist, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

Friday, January 1, 2021 — An Emergency Meeting of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Authority was held virtually on December 31, 2020, under the Chairmanship of Dr. the Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica.

The meeting was convened to discuss the particular challenges experienced by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, given the recent effusive eruptions at the La Soufrière; as well as the continued concerns of seismic activity from Mount Pelée in Martinique.

Member States expressed solidarity with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Martinique in these uncertain times.

Situational report on La Soufrière in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

The OECS Authority received a summary report from Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonzalves, detailing the situation in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the events which led to the subsequent elevation of the alert level from ‘Green’ to ‘Orange’, on Tuesday the 29th December 2020.

According to Scientists monitoring the situation, effusive eruptions had been occurring regularly in the last week of December, and the small pool of water which was in the crater of the dome formed following the eruption of 1979 had dried up as a result of the heat.   Further, emissions in the crater had created a new satellite dome.   A three-member team from the University of the West Indies (UWI) Seismic Research Center (SRC) arrived in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to monitor the volcanic activities, using additional equipment and continuing the support provided by the SRC. More support would be provided in the coming days.

The Orange alert meant that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines needed to activate processes in the unlikely event that the situation would change and the alert level moved to ‘Red’, where exclusive eruptions occur.  Over the next few days, the Government would have a better picture of the situation as it unfolded, however, according to reports received up until the time of the meeting, matters had not gotten worse.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines had activated an annex of their National Emergency Plan, Annex IV, which is the National Volcano Emergency Plan. The Prime Minister confirmed that the public was well informed with meetings being held and the matter was being treated with seriousness at the highest levels.

In thanking the Member States of the OECS, he confirmed that he had gotten expressions of support from many, including colleague Heads of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).  OECS Member States pledged over three thousand rooms for accommodation and would continue to assess their accommodation capacities should more rooms be needed to be made available, as they remained on standby, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.  Member states pledged support of personnel, air, sea and land transportation among offers of practical assistance.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is being supported by the OECS, RSS, CDEMA, CARICOM, and UWI.

Situational Report on Mount Pelée in Martinique

The OECS Authority received a summary report on the Mount Pelée situation in Martinique, following communication sent to the Authority earlier in the month.  Martinique was currently at a ‘Yellow’ alert level as of December 4^th, 2020 due to a resurgence of activity on the Mount Pelée volcano. The activity began in April 2019, recorded at 10 kilometers below sea level, a situation which scientists have said will result in the surfacing of magmatic fluid. There has been an increase in seismic activities as of November 2020 and research is continuing to determine the process and the origin of the signals and the actual evidence of more developments.  ‘Yellow’ alert means the enforcement of scientific observation of the volcano.

Martinique is being supported by the OECS, UWI and Paris Globe Institute of Physics (Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris – Université de Paris).  The Authority remains on standby and in total and absolute solidarity with Martinique in this regard.

Report from the University of the West Indies, Seismic Research Center (SRC)

The Authority received a report from the University of the West Indies, Seismic Research Center (SRC).  The presentation highlighted a review of activities at La Soufriere as recorded daily from January 2018 until present.  However, as of November 01, 2020 the SRC had recorded an increase in background activity at La Soufrière, which was usually quiet. An alert on 29th December 2020 received from satellite imagery identified a hot spot on the dome at which point NEMO was contacted and a team was dispatched from the monitoring unit at Soufriere to do visual checks. Historically, La Soufriere has shown to have both effusive and explosive eruptions and early figures on the rate of diffusion was shared. The SRC outlined its plans for continued involvement as well as recommendations for continued monitoring.

Member States were assured that science does not suggest a connection between eruptions being triggered along the underwater volcanic chain of the OECS archipelago as a result of possible volcanic activities in Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.  Activities in other volcanoes in Member States are more likely to be linked to tectonic plate movements triggered by earthquakes and not the effusive eruptions currently being experienced in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Report from CDEMA

A report was received from the Caribbean Disaster Management Agency.  CDEMA confirmed that they had activated their Regional Coordination Plan (RCP) and as part of their alert had placed four teams on standby for deployment as required and in line with the COVID-19 protocols. Further steps by CDEMA would be guided by scientific information.

Report from RSS

A report was received from the Regional Security Services who confirmed that they were in the process of moving scientists from the UWI Seismic Research Center to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.  The RSS planned on mobilizing CDEMA’s Regional Response Mechanism when necessary and will remain in contact with the military forces in Martinique for collaboration when required.

The OECS Commission, at the direction of the OECS Authority,will seek to mobilize resources towards this evolving situation and seek to work more closely with CDEMA, UWI SRC and the RSS to ramp up their capability.  In the unlikely event of an eruption, it can be generally expected that the ash will affect agriculture, air quality and flight patterns across the region.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

ATTENDANCE

Heads of Government:

Honourable Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit, Chairman and Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica

Hon. Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda 

Hon. Joseph Farrell, Premier of Montserrat

Hon. Allen Chastanet,  Prime Minister of Saint Lucia

Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

The Rt. Hon. Dr. Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada

Hon. Andrew Fahie, Premier of British Virgin Islands

Hon. Dr. Ellis Webster, Premier of Anguilla

Miss Diana Perran, Vice President of the Regional Council, Guadeloupe

OECS Commissioners:

H. E. Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General, OECS Commission

H. E. Colin Murdoch, Commissioner, Antigua

H. E. Cathisha Williams, Commissioner, Grenada

H. E. Debra Lewis, Commissioner, Montserrat

H. E. Elma Gene Isaac, Commissioner, Saint Lucia

H. E. Felix Gregoire, Commissioner, Dominica

Ms. Najan Christopher, Focal Point, British Virgin Islands

Ms. Maguy Marie Jeanne, Commissioner for Martinique

OECS Institutions:

Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Mr. Timothy Antoine

Other Members of Delegations:

Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Authority, Elizabeth Riley

Regional Security Services, Captain Ricky Shurland

UWI Seismic Research Centre, Dr. Erouscilla Joseph

Director of NEMO (Saint Lucia),  Dorine Gustave

Regional Council of Guadeloupe, Emily Siousarram

Deputy Director NEMO (Saint Lucia), Maria Medard

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Dominica), Hon. Kenneth Darroux