Haiti disaster relief picks up speed

Customers in Barbados can text the word HELP to 5152, in the French West Indies they can text to 9995, Guyana 1218, Jamaica 444-2452 and Suriname 2727 to donate funds.

Digicel officials said that it will donate all funds it receives to three Haitian charities – Haven, Paradis des Indiens and Prodev, and noted that there is no restriction on the number of texts a customer can send, so people are free to donate as much as they like. Officials also indicated that Digicel recently launched a text line that will allow its customers to donate well-needed funds toward the humanitarian relief effort that is urgently needed in Haiti.

Digicel Haiti Chairman, Maarten Boute, said; “This is truly a sad time for Haiti and its people and my condolences go to all the families who lost loved ones. We are reaching out to everyone that can help, and no donation is too small. We remained strong after the earthquake in 2010 and will continue to show our strength through these trying times as well. I would like to thank everyone for keeping Haiti in their thoughts at this time.” Meanwhile, The Bankers Association of Trinidad and Tobago (BATT) in coordination with the Office of the Prime Minister has established a Haiti Relief Hurricane Fund. In a press release, BATT advised that each of its eight member banks has opened an account and invites the public to make financial donations to assist Haiti in its recovery process. “Our prayers are with Haiti at this time and we are asking that you join us in bringing some measure of relief and comfort to Haiti,” BATT said.

The list of Banks and its accounts include Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Limited 74815 /1209309, First Citizens Bank Limited 2366947, Bank of Baroda 95610200000740, RBC Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago 11-000-000-335-9145, Republic Bank Limited 180 801 049 001, JMMB Bank 557769-0201, First Caribbean International Bank (Trinidad and Tobago) 180002851, and Citibank (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited 5109882021.