JAMAICA GLEANER – The Digicel Group has announced a donation of US$5 million ($444,600,000) in cash to support the urgent relief efforts needed to cope with the devastation caused by the 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday.

In a release issued by the company this morning, Digicel’s donation will be made to the NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) who are spearheading the relief efforts.

The company is also sending in a team of people to Haiti early today to assist in whatever way possible with the relief efforts and to assess the impact on its communications infrastructure, which incurred damage but is operational.

Digicel is one of the largest companies in Haiti having launched its mobile services in 2006 – and is the largest foreign direct investor in Haiti today with over two million customers.

Colm Delves, Group CEO of Digicel said “we are deeply upset and concerned at the news of the earthquake in Haiti and want to do whatever we can to support the desperately needed relief efforts. We hope that governments around the world will also support the people of Haiti and immediately provide much needed aid to assist with the huge recovery efforts that are now needed.

He also said the company stands ready to assist however it can. “The people of Haiti welcomed us and made us their own when we launched there in 2006 and we are determined to be there for them in their time of need. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti and we would like to assure them that Digicel stands ready to assist in whatever way we can at this difficult time,” Delves said in the release.