– commends Guyanese for their generosity in national effort to help
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo, commending Guyanese for their generosity in helping the people of earthquake devastated Haiti, has assured that Guyana will continue to work with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in that regard.

Speaking at a press conference in Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown, yesterday, he reminded that before he left for the Middle East recently, he had a meeting with the Parliamentary Opposition, a large number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and, out of that, emerged a national programme to raise money and support for Haitians.

Government is leading the national effort to help the victims after committing US$1M towards that cause and has established a multi-stakeholder committee, chaired by Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Priya Manickchand.

“I have received a report and, in fact, a report has continuously been given to me whilst I was abroad, that the Committee is working extremely well and I wish to thank all of those people who participate in the committee, or who have supported their efforts,” President Jagdeo said.

He continued: “In fact, I wish to commend all Guyanese for their generosity in helping the people of Haiti, who, so badly, deserve our help now and we have all seen the horrific images of women and children and men wandering looking for assistance, food, water, health care.”

The Head of State said the disaster could have happened anywhere, adding, “So, we have to do all we can to help them to recover.”

Acknowledging that there are a few saying that Guyana is a poor country and should not be sending money to Haiti, he declared: “But it is unbelievable that we could have this kind of narrow-mindedness, for our brothers and sisters in Haiti, in the face of such a horrible tragedy.”

“So, not to focus too much on that group, because I think all Guyanese have shown their generosity. We have raised a large sum of money, we, probably, would have close to G$250M, including the G$205M that the Government put up,” President stated.

He said a large number of items have been received and would be shipped to Haiti. “I am told that by the end of the week, thirteen containers will leave for Haiti.”

HEALTH RESPONSE
President Jagdeo said Guyana has been working with CARICOM to coordinate the health response which has been the thematic area chosen by the regional grouping.

“We are yet awaiting, from CARICOM, the costing of this initiative but we will meet this Friday, in caucus in Suriname, that is the CARICOM Heads of Government and we hope, by that time, there will be greater clarity on costing as to how we will deliver on this health initiative which seems to be the area that CARICOM wants us to focus on,” he said.

He added: “So we will continue to coordinate our efforts with CARICOM in this regard.”

President Jagdeo said there are some Guyanese in Haiti and the Administration has decided to fund all the costs of bringing them home.

“I think about eight of them are already on the way back and we have made it clear that all of the Haitians who are living here could bring their families to live with them now,” he announced.

The President noted that this question has been raised about migration of Haitian citizens to different parts of the Caribbean and assured: “We will work along with CARICOM to establish a framework for this.”

He said he has seen the CARICOM Secretary General speak about the need to assist but cautioned that “since Haiti has nine million people and the entire CARICOM has six million, we would have to do this carefully.”

“I have seen The Bahamas, they have stopped their deportation of Haitians and, in Jamaica, they have announced that the Haitians who may go there will be placed separately and receive all attention and, later, be repatriated to Haiti. So there is yet no clarity about what a common framework for CARICOM will be but we are prepared to do our part,” he stated.

He said: ”Ultimately, in the long run, we can’t empty the country of all Haitians. We have to support the rebuilding of Haiti and ensure that all of the people there have a productive life. But, as I said before, I am prepared to work with CARICOM to establish a framework that will bring, at least in the short term, temporary relief to those people who may have needs outside of Haiti, including children.

“We have heard that there may be a move to send kids to countries where they can receive care and we are very interested in that sort of thing. Maybe, if the region decides that that is a good approach and the Haitian people also determine that that is in their best interest, because, ultimately, their Government would have to make that determination, our homes and hospitals would be open to those children.”

Replying to questions, he said: “Guyana is prepared to go beyond health. We have already done so. We have raised quite a bit from very generous Guyanese, outside of the health sector.

“We are prepared to go outside of the health field but we want to have a coordinated approach to Haiti and we want to be part of the health endeavours of CARICOM, too,” he emphasised.

“I have seen The Bahamas, they have stopped their deportation of Haitians and, in Jamaica, they have announced that the Haitians who may go there will be placed separately and receive all attention and, later, be repatriated to Haiti. So there is yet no clarity about what a common framework for CARICOM will be but we are prepared to do our part. Ultimately, in the long run, we can’t empty the country of all Haitians. We have to support the rebuilding of Haiti and ensure that all of the people there have a productive life. B
ut, as I said before, I am prepared to work with CARICOM to establish a framework that will bring, at least in the short term, temporary relief to those people who may have needs outside of Haiti, including children. We have heard that there may be a move to send kids to countries where they can receive care and we are very interested in that sort of thing.” – President Bharrat Jagdeo