Barbados Search & Rescue Team Receives Hero Of Venezuela Medals

Personnel from the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) and the Barbados Fire Service, who comprised the Urban Search and Rescue team deployed to Venezuela in the aftermath of the double earthquake on June 24, have received Hero of Venezuela Medals from Acting President, Delcy Rodríguez.

Barbados’ Ambassador to Venezuela, Commander Aquinas Clarke, made this disclosure as the team, which worked in La Guaira, the epicentre of the damage, redeployed to Barbados on Thursday. “I want to thank them for their outstanding representation of Barbados and the outstanding work they did while they were here in Venezuela,” he stated.

The Ambassador, who is presently in Venezuela, also gave an update on the other aspect of Barbados’ humanitarian response there: the deployment of the BDF Field Medical Hospital in Guarenas. He explained that there were more than 5,000 people displaced in the area, with damage to schools, hospitals and other infrastructure.

“At present, there are 28 persons from Barbados here setting up the hospital, and I suspect that by the end of today (July 10), the hospital will be set up. The services of electricity and water have been installed, and the Venezuelan authorities are currently constructing a field bathroom for use by the patients of the hospital,” he outlined.

The envoy said that the hospital, under the charge of Lieutenant Commander Anderson Goodridge, was expected to be operational by early next week.

“We suspect that based on the advanced work, the hospital will be open between Monday and Wednesday next week, and we expect that there will be another 46 persons coming tomorrow on a flight out of Barbados, which will comprise the doctors and nurses, and other members of the support team for the hospital. So, by tomorrow night, we shall have a complement of 74 persons for the hospital here in Venezuela, out of Barbados,” he shared.

Commander Clarke thanked the BDF’s Chief of Staff and its members for their efforts to ensure the hospital is set up to serve the people of Venezuela. He also took the opportunity to encourage medical practitioners, doctors, nurses, and other members of the medical fraternity to volunteer and to register with the field hospital.

“You can deploy here for a period of two weeks. You can even deploy for a month if you have the time to assist at this critical juncture. Venezuela has always been a friend to Barbados, and I believe that this is an opportunity for us to give back,” he urged. (PR/GIS)