Relief pours in for Haiti

IN THE wake of Tuesday's catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, a number of companies, non-governmental organisations and groups, along with individuals, have been making contributions to the relief effort.

LIME Caribbean has established a text line for its customers who wish to make a donation to the Haitian earthquake-relief effort. Customers - pre-paid or post-paid - can simply text the word Haiti to (444-4357) to make their donation. Each text costs J$50. The entire amount collected across the Caribbean will be donated to the relief effort.

Victoria Mutual has established an account for its employees and members of the public to make donations to assist in relief efforts. Monetary donations may be deposited to VMBS Haitian Relief, account number 25324104, at any VMBS branch across the island.

Scotiabank Jamaica is donating $5 million to the Red Cross in Jamaica to assist in the provision of international aid to Haiti. The cash donation will then be turned over to the Haitian Red Cross to purchase relief supplies in that country as a way to boost economic activity and pump cash into the already cash-strapped system as further economic fallout is expected.

West Indies Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Jamaica has donated US$10,000 and is encouraging its members in the more than 735 congregations in Jamaica, The Bahamas, The Turks and Caicos Islands and The Cayman Islands, to support a collection drive to assist the thousands affected by the devastating earthquake, which rocked Haiti on Tuesday.

NEM Insurance Company is donating three container loads of Wata, bottled by the Wisynco Group of Companies, valued at $1 million to the Haitian relief effort, Chris Hind, general manager, announced yesterday.

The LIAT Board of Directors has agreed to make available an aircraft to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency to support the regional relief effort for Haiti. A number of LIAT's staff, including pilots and engineers, have already offered to provide their services for this activity.

New York - In response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday, Citigroup Inc yesterday announced a US$2 million commitment for immediate relief and recovery efforts. Citi will give US$250,000 to the American Red Cross for immediate relief, and the remainder will be given to local partners for medium- to long-term reconstruction efforts.