– all funds to be channeled to National Relief Committee
THE Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development has joined other organisations in offering assistance to Haiti by establishing a relief committee in its effort to support the other disaster committees while collecting information and giving guidance where necessary.

Chairperson of the National Relief Committee for Haiti, Priya Manickchand fully supports this venture since all organisations will be working in collaboration with each other to bring assistance to Haitians.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Sewchan, stated that this committee will be open to the public for donations as well as for staff members.

Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) throughout Guyana are a part of this committee to ensure that persons from all areas can make contributions if they so desire.

New bank accounts have been created and will be managed only by the Regional Chairmen and Regional Executive Officers.

Co-ordinator, Hinterland Affairs, Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Harripersaud Nokta who is also the designated head for the relief committee, said that all records for staff contribution will be managed by Regional Executive Officers.

He said that there will be proper monitoring and accountability of all cash and cheque donations and that 65 NDCs and five of the six municipalities will be collecting cash donations for the Haiti Relief Committee.

Nokta also added that periodic reports of funds collected will be recorded and publicised so that members of society will be aware of what progress is being achieved.

Other members of the committee are Sewchan, Mahendra Ishiri, Isha Barrow and Joan Callender.