GIVE GENEROUSLY: CARICOM participating in donors meeting on Haiti

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chairman Roosevelt Skerrit will join his regional counterparts in the Dominican Republic on Monday to participate in a donor’s meeting for earthquake devastated Haiti.

“Haiti is in need of support and help of all the donor community to ensure that the resources can get into Haiti as quickly as possible so that the international and regional community can start the re-construction of the lives and infrastructure of this very beautiful country,” said, Skerrit, who is also the Prime Minister of Dominica.

Last Tuesday, the French-speaking CARICOM country was hit by a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3, leveling various buildings including the Presidential Palace and leaving an estimated 100,000 people dead.

Skerrit will be accompanied to the meeting by Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Patrick Mannning, Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson.

The donor’s meeting will be hosted by Dominican President Leonel Fernández and reports out of Haiti said that President Rene Preval will also attend.

Prime Minister Skerrit

Skerrit said that it was also important for the region to ensure that the issue of debt forgiveness for Haiti is placed high on the agenda for the one-day meeting.

“I believe very strongly and I believe the entire CARICOM feels that way, that Haiti needs to start on a new footing and Haiti’s debt issue has been a very serious concern for the government of Haiti.

“And I believe if we are serious about assisting Haiti in moving forward we will certainly have to look at debt forgiveness… so that all of us can ensure that the mistakes which before plagued Haiti can be addressed in the development of a new Haiti.” Skerrit said.

President of the Inter American Development Bank (IDB), Luis Alberto Moreno, who is due in Haiti on Monday, said he would also be attending the donor’s meeting.

“The IDB can play a key role in rebuilding infrastructure and basic services in Port-au-Prince, which was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday. The IDB’s Haiti portfolio currently holds some US$330 million in undisbursed funds, of which $90 million could be quickly redirected to high-priority civil works and reconstruction projects,” the IDB said in a statement

“In addition, the IDB expects to approve up to US$128 million in new grants for Haiti this year, potentially providing more resources for reconstruction,” the statement added, noting that “Moreno has urged the international community to redouble its efforts to aid Haiti in the wake of the Caribbean nation’s worst natural disaster in 200 years”.

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6 Comments

  1. Just wondering
    January 19, 2010

    Skerit is saying to other people “give generously”, but what has been his personal contribution to the cause. I wonder? St vincent and the Grenadines raised 47 thousand dollars and his comrade down there contributed almost one fifth of that, that is 10 thousand dollars FROM HIS PERSONAL FUNDS. Skerrit, Dominicans raised in excess of 150 thousand dollars. The cause could be helped if you could do like your comrade and contribute one fifth from your personal account not the treasury of Dominica. The Hatien effort will surely go a long way and That surely wouldn’t touch your MILLIONS……….

  2. DA MAN IN BOSTON
    January 18, 2010

    DON”T GET SWAYED::
    Yeah! it sure looked bad, but don’t let that sway you, is what the news team showing that is bad.There are 9 million people in Haiti, doe let that small group turn you off, they always frist to strike.
    This things always going to happen, thugs and gangs ruling at this time choas and confusion running rampant now, but let’s pray that things change soon. There are lots of inocent people that really need help.We know Haiti is a very challenged society and alot of sh$!&% go down there already, we have to start thinking seriously about life today. start making our own preparedness plan for when things like that comes our way, though i hope we never see such a day.
    that what happen when gangs rule Law and Order will soon take over.

  3. Prophet2
    January 18, 2010

    The question should be, what would we do in a situation like that? Those people are in traumatic shock and the desperation didn’t start just now, this is the icing on the cake. They also need counseling for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
    We ought to have some empathy and try to walk a mile in their shoes, then and only then we’d know how it feels.

  4. looking on
    January 18, 2010

    I looked at CNN news of saturday morning and saw how the haitians started throwing the energy biscuits being given to them and making their people look at animals. i was so embarrased. I don’t think they were hungry at all. People trying to help you and instead of asking a question you start to throw the food. That only makes haitians look ungrateful and confirm everyone’s perception of them

  5. disappointed
    January 18, 2010

    I felt very sadened by the situation especially the high mortality rate. ever since the disater, i hav been following the news and internet postings including vidoes n pics. however, i was quite disapponted and rather disgusted at the manner in which the hatians conducted themselves. its a shame that these people fought n threw food at the aid workers claiming that the food is no good n they wud prefer cash. it was even a bigger disappointment wen i saw last night that two aid workers from the dominican republic were shot by the hatians. still with all the help, they claim that they are getting no help whatsoever. Most hatians i encounterd with before tend to hav a lil negativity in their attitude but i never thought it would be displayed at a time like this. this leaves me thinking -was the earthquake was really a punishment from god as alledged? my heart still goes out to the children n all innocent people at this time but its a shame that peple could be so ungrateful and unmannerly.

    is this the motivation dat we get to giv help?

    i hav posted this same comment on another article.

  6. Mary
    January 18, 2010

    I do not have a problem in helping Haiti, but a show was held yesterday at Krazy Koconut and they the hailtians did not give any support. Thats is bad , others can help but the GOOD GOD said we have to help ourselves.

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