The People’s Republic of China has offered equipment valued $6 Mn to the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) to improve its disaster preparedness and response capabilities. The equipment comprises 4x4 vehicles, a mobile kitchen, a refrigerator van, a tractor and a vessel.

China has offered equipment valued $6 Mn to the Barbados Defence Force (Picture source: BDF)

This equipment was officially handed over by Chinese Ambassador Yan Xiushen to the BDF Chief of Staff, Colonel Glyne Grannum, during a brief ceremony at Saint-Ann’ss Fort. When accepting the donation, Colonel Grannum said it was “very timely”, as the BDF prepared for the hurricane season, which forecasters predict will be as active as 2017.

The equipment, he stressed, would enhance the BDF’s disaster preparedness and response capabilities to effect search and rescue operations, flood relief and distress response operations, among other things.

In turn, Ambassador Yan said the equipment was a demonstration of the strong friendship between China and Barbados. This donation represents the fourth largest amount of aid from the Chinese army to Barbados since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, 41 years ago.

Ambassador Yan expressed the hope that the military aid would assist in enhancing the BDF’s defence capacity.