Red Light Holland (TRIP.C) and their newly minted partner Headland West Indies in St. Vincent and the Grenadines launched fundraising initiative #SVGStrong to support response, recovery and rebuilding after the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano.
Officials had been watching the volcano’s activity since December 2020, and it finally escalated to the point where they issued an evacuation order earlier this month. An explosion rocked the island with an ash plume reaching 8,000 meters and drifting eastward towards the Atlantic. The number evacuated safely had reached 16,000 people. Other eruptions shot ash into the atmosphere with plumes covering the island of Barbados in ash. Residents faced power outages and cut off water supplies, and there’s still more reports of explosions and lava flows.
“As Red Light Holland continues its productive talks with both the highest levels of the SVG government and members of the Vincentian business community in the emerging plant-based wellness industry, we are immediately doing our part to support them at this critical time by powering this initiative. Having spent a significant amount of time recently in SVG, I grew very fond of the beauty of this nation and its people. In the wake of this devastating volcano, we recognize the magnitude of the task facing the government, now and in the months ahead. #SVGStrong allows us to rise together to help meet this challenge and help the people directly affected,” said Todd Shapiro, CEO and director of Red Light Holland.
This is a little off-brand for Red Light Holland, which is nominally an Ontario-based psychedelics company focused on selling magic truffles to the legal, recreational market in the Netherlands, but it’s never the wrong time to do the right thing and a little bit of visibility doesn’t hurt, either.
The companies’ commitments include:
- EC$53,000 (CDN $25,000) donation by Red Light Holland
- An additional EC$32,000 donation from Mera Life Science, SVG Biomed, and Ajori Health and Wellness
- Sourcing of much-needed items such as food, water, medicines, and testing supplies
- Establishment and promotion of a special fundraising page for additional corporate donations
- Execution of all logistics on the ground in St Vincent and The Grenadines by Headland West Indies, led by CEO, Cyril Campbell and their outreach team, with the support of the Metrocint General Insurance company, The Hairouna Media Group, and LMJ Law Chambers
It’s a small amount towards a good cause, and the UN is still hoping to draw in a bigger price-tag to help the ailing nation with its recovery.
Global UN Funding appeal of us$29.2 million for humanitarian assistance & recovery for Saint Vincent & Grenadines and affected countries was launched today
Download appeal document ?https://t.co/daBzZfcX9R @reliefweb @UNReliefChief @UN_SDG @UNBdosandOECS @UN_Spokesperson
— Didier Trebucq (@dtrebucq) April 20, 2021
In addition to TRIP, #SVGStrong has gotten support form SVG Pioneer Licensees, Mera Life Sciences, Ajori Health and Wellness and SVG Biomed, which is a psychedelic subsidiary of Headland West Indies.
“Thank you to Red Light Holland, Mera Life Sciences, Headland West Indies, and Ajori Health and Wellness. These pioneers of the nascent Competitive Modern Medicinal and Wellness Industries have come together to make this substantive and generous pledge to our country’s emergency response efforts,” said Hon. Saboto Caesar, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry, and Labour for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. “The Help SVG initiative signals their long-term investment, partnership, and commitment to the people and economy of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”
The Headland West Indies team will be handling donation https://e4njohordzs.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/tnw8sVO3j-2.pngistrations under the supervision of the National Emergency Management Organization with help from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade through its Toronto consulate.
—Joseph Morton
