Tank-Weld sends building supplies to aid Vincentians

Mark Titus, Gleaner Writer

Local construction giants Tank-Weld Metals is sending a supply of building materials valued at US$1.6 million on concessionary terms to assist the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines in rebuilding their lives.

Tank-Weld, which will be contributing an additional J$10 million to the rebuilding programme by paying half of the shipping costs, is inviting other corporate firms to join the venture.

The vessel will depart Tank-Weld's Rio Bueno port facility on Friday for the Eastern Caribbean nation, where nine persons died and dozens were left homeless after flood rains on December 24.

"The vessel will carry building material, the cost of which has been discounted by 30 per cent," said Chris Bicknell, CEO of Tank-Weld. "In addition, our company has extended generous credit terms to the government of St Vincent & the Grenadines, with a payment plan over a 10-month period."

According to Bicknell, his firm was able to make such an offer in a timely and cost-effective way because of the strategic location of the company's port facility, which houses a wide range of building materials in a 10-acre warehouse to facilitate the efficient loading of the company's vessels.

This is the second time that Tank-Weld Group is responding to an appeal from Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves to provide building material to disaster-struck St Vincent & the Grenadines. In 2010 - following the onslaught of Hurricane Tomas - the company offered US$3 million in credit to supply building materials and hurricane-relief supplies to that country.

Other local firms wishing to assist the people of the Eastern Caribbean country can contact Dr Garnett Roper, who is coordinating the relief project on behalf of Tank-Weld, or Chris Bicknell, CEO of Tank-Weld. Roper can be reached at 392-3877.