The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade welcomed Ambassador Mr. Regis Chapman, the newly accredited Representative and Country Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Caribbean Multi Country Office based in Barbados.
On Thursday, 7th October 2021, Mr. Regis Chapman presented Letters of Introduction to Dr. The Hon. Ralph E. Gonsalves, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines via the virtual online platform Zoom. Mr. Chapman has an extensive career working in the United Nations. Prior to his current post, Mr. Chapman previously held the posts of Senior Regional Programme and Policy Adviser, United Nations World Food programme, Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean; Senior Programme Advisor to the United Nations World Food programme, Somalia; Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer, UN WFP, Regional Beureau for East and Central Africa among other experiences which includes working with the American Red Cross/IFRC and the Peace Corps.
The World Food Programme works with national, regional and international partners, supporting 22 countries and territories in the English-Dutch Caribbean to strengthen the region’s capacity to respond in times of crisis. The World Food Programme Caribbean MultiCountry Office, based in Barbados, re-established the WFP’s presence in the Caribbean.
Following the explosive eruptions of the April 2021 La Soufrière volcano, the WFP launched an emergency response and continues to support the nationally-led emergency response efforts. This include the reception, storage, transport, tracking and last mile delivery of relief items, the registration and verification of evacuees/displaced persons, conducting a vulnerability needs assessment/verification exercise to astern the needs of evacuees outside of government shelters; and delivering critical cash assistance to meet the essential needs of those most impacted and vulnerable populations. The UN WFP has provided cash assistance to over 3,500 households as part of its assistance programme to this country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and by extension the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines take this opportunity to welcome the newly appointed UNWFP Representative, Mr. Regis Chapman and renew the Government’s commitment in working together to strengthen the bilateral cooperation with the World Food Programme and this country.