GUYANESE RESPONSE to the horrendous humanitarian crisis in Haiti is most commendable.

From all segments of the society, there is an outpouring of help that’s consistent with Guyana’s reputation for generosity and willingness to suspend thinking of some domestic needs at home.

President Bharrat Jagdeo, in announcing the US$1million emergency aid response and the initiative to establish a truly bi-partisan national relief committee has avoided time and energy being wasted in useless political squabbles.

There is no mistaking the heart-felt concerns by the Guyanese as they follow the nightmarish images of Haiti and its people after the earthquake.

It was simply encouraging to learn that the telethon hosted by the National Relief Committee for Haiti, as arranged by NCN, had succeeded in raising approximately $8M in its first effort.

The bigger challenges for Haiti and its CARICOM partners remain ahead, once the immediate ones of mass burial of the dead that have been piling up on streets and among the ruins, and providing emergency medical aid and food for survivors have been addressed.

Lobbying the international community to secure funds to help reconstruction in rehabilitation in Haiti, as well as helping to cope with an expected flood of Haitians fleeing destitution will certainly have to be given serious consideration.