TT help for Haiti

Across the board, communities, non governmental organisations, and businessmen have begun collection drives for money, food, water, clothing, medical supplies and other items to be sent to various organisations on the island for relief and humanitarian efforts.

Several different releases reached the offices of Newsday yesterday detailing each organisations’ plan of action to assist the plight of the Haitians, as well as messages of condolence and support.

More local businesses pledged their support to the Red Cross effort to collect financial support for relief.

In a release yesterday, RBTT bank said they will soon release bank account numbers for persons to make contributions to the Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund along with their regional counterparts which make up RBC Caribbean. Their parent company, the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) also announced in the media release their donation of US$100,000 to the Red Cross in support of relief and humanitarian efforts in Haiti.

“The most urgent needs identified by the Red Cross are for search and rescue efforts, field hospitals, emergency health services, water purification, emergency shelter, logistics and telecommunications.

RBC has requested that, where appropriate, its donation to the Red Cross be directed to ensuring survivors have access to clean drinking water,” the release stated.

Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Limited also established an account for members of the public to donate funds which will be given to, and managed by Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross. Management and staff, according to a media release issued by the bank, also made their own financial donations to provide support. Scotiabank’s head of operations in Canada donated CAN$250,000 to the Canadian Red Cross’ Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. State owned bank, First Citizens, also announced the establishment of the First Citizens Haiti Relief Fund, and invited members of the public to contribute. Staff at the bank have been doing their part, gathering food stuff, toiletries, clothing, first aid kits and other emergency supplies. First Caribbean International Bank, together with its parent company, CIBC donated CAN$100,000 to the effort.

As their contribution, Caribbean Prestige Foundation for the Performing Arts decided that $2.00 from every ticket purchased for the finals of the International Soca Monarch and Groovy Soca Monarch competitions will go towards relief efforts.

In a collaborated effort, members of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) are moving to provide financial and material support to Haiti.

In an interview yesterday, TTMA President, Greig Laughlin said members have been meeting since yesterday to coordinate their support. Financial contributions, he said, will be given to the Red Cross for use while other manufacturers are filling shipping containers with necessary products and are making attempts to find a safe port to ship to, since Haitian ports were damaged in the earthquake. NGOs are also taking up the relief effort with the Young Men Christian Association(YMCA) calling on members of the public and their corporate friends to help in their drive to collect non-perishable food items, water and medical supplies such as bandages, paracetemol and antiseptics to send to Haiti. YMCA communications officer, Delisa Lewis, said the organisation is working with the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association who are organising to airlift these items to Haiti by January 22. Another organisation, Is There Not Enough Cause (ITNAC) is also collecting food, water, building supplies and money to lend their support.

The Salvation Army is also doing its part by sending a team, specialising in the field of emergency disaster services, to relieve personnel, stationed in Haiti who are assisting those affected on the island despite being affected by the earthquake themselves.