Government leads national effort to help victims of devastating earthquake in Haiti
– commits US$1M for Haiti assistance, establishes multi-stakeholder committee to oversee effort
Government has committed US$1M towards assistance for Haiti which has suffered from a massive earthquake and several aftershocks, and has established a multi-stakeholder committee chaired by Minister of Human Services, Priya Manickchand, to oversee the effort.

President Bharrat Jagdeo and Leader of the Opposition Mr. Robert Corbin after a multi-stakeholder meeting at the Office of the President yesterday on Guyana’s Haiti relief effort. Also in this GINA photo are Minister of Home Affairs Mr. Clement Rohee and PPP General Secretary and Member of Parliament Mr. Donald Ramotar.

In a statement released yesterday, President Bharrat Jagdeo said, “I was deeply shocked and saddened at the extent of the destruction caused by the catastrophic earthquake which devastated our sister nation of Haiti yesterday. The haunting images of bodies, injured persons and ruined buildings struck a chord of compassion throughout our nation for the people of Haiti.”

“Haiti, as the poorest country in the western hemisphere, is now severely challenged to cope with this tragedy. Haiti needs all countries, including the small developing countries, to come to its aid urgently.”

As a result, the President organised a meeting of various stakeholders which included the opposition political parties, religious organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), at the Office of the President to coordinate a national effort by Guyana to render the assistance needed.

The earthquake, a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 on the Richter scale, was centred approximately 15 kilometres from Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, and struck at around 17:00 hours local time on Tuesday, January 12.

President Bharrat Jagdeo and Leader of the Opposition Mr. Robert Corbin discuss Guyana’s Haiti Relief effort after a well-attended multi-stakeholder meeting on the matter at the Office of the President yesterday.

Most of Port-au-Prince’s major landmarks were significantly damaged or destroyed in the earthquake, including the Presidential Palace, the National Assembly building, the Port-au-Prince Cathedral, the main jail and at least one hospital, and the Haitian President has said that possibly hundreds of thousands of people have died.

Speaking with the Government Information Agency (GINA) after the meeting, Minister Manickchand noted that while an assessment of the full impact of the earthquake is still to come, the need to act quickly is critical, noting that all parties involved in the meeting recognised the urgency of the situation.

Some of the stakeholders involved in the meeting at the Office of the President on Guyana’s Haiti Relief effort.

She indicated that the first meeting of the committee will be held today at the Civil Defence Commission, and stakeholders will identify the persons who will serve on the committee.

Several of the participants involved in the meeting praised the President’s leadership and the speed with which Government has responded to the crisis. They also called on Guyanese to be forthcoming in rendering assistance to Haitians, both in financial contributions and goods.

Minister Manickchand noted that the relief efforts will be two-pronged: immediate assistance will focus on relieving the ongoing human suffering, while the long-term effort will seek to rebuild the country. (GINA)