Relief fund now over $254M
The National Committee for Haiti Relief yesterday received over $3M in cash and other forms of donation from several organisations.

At the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Thomas Lands, presentations were made by Republic Bank staffers ($300,000), Gandhi Youth Organisation ($142,000), Guyana Fire Service staffers ($140,000) plus 15 boxes of clothing, National Hardware Limited $1M worth of clothing, Ansa Mcal Limited 200 cases of sardines, Gizmos and Gadgets $100,000 , St. Stanislaus College two boxes of canned food and Neal and Massy $750,000 .

Chairperson of the National Committee for Haiti Relief, Minister of Human Services and Social Security Priya Manickchand, who received the donations, expressed the Committee’s appreciation and noted that its members are very encouraged by the overwhelming response, “since persons who don’t make fantastic salaries have combined their donations to bring relief to the people of Haiti.”

Minister Manickchand noted that as at 15:00 hrs yesterday, donations deposited in the Relief Committee’s bank account amounted to over $254M.

She said that while the committee is happy about receiving large amounts, it’s the small amounts that inspire others to contribute “since its shows that the Guyanese humane spirit is not lost.”

Minister Manickchand also noted that while other efforts are being made in Guyana to secure more aid for the people of Haiti, President Bharrat Jagdeo will be stepping up his call for more relief for the people of Haiti when he meets with other Caricom heads in Suriname this weekend.

Heads of Government will be meeting on Friday to determine types of relief needed in Haiti and how each member state can contribute to Haiti’s rebuilding process. The country’s capital Port-au-Prince was devastated by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on January 12 which claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and left millions homeless.

Minister Manickchand said that a shipment of at least three containers is expected to leave for Haiti today and 10 more are expected to leave on Friday of next week, since information coming from Haiti indicated that the ports are being cleared.

Director of CDC Colonel (ret’d) Chabilall Ramsarup said that over $ 45,853,000 worth in kind was collected since the establishment of the committee on January 13.

On Tuesday last a vessel shipping four containers packed with flour, refined coconut oil, pharmaceuticals, water and clothes departed the John Fernandes Wharf, Water Street, for Jamaica, where a focal point will be established, from where relief items will then be transported to Haiti. (GINA)