-as cash, other donations pour in to national relief committee
Charity-minded persons and companies continue to contribute to local Haiti relief efforts even as the Guyana National Committee for Haiti Relief shipped off four containers for the earthquake-ravaged island on Tuesday.
At the Civil Defence Commission on Thomas Lands on Tuesday, Minister of Human Services Priya Manickchand, who also chairs the Guyana National Committee for Haiti Relief, pointed out that the committee’s bank account had just over $245M and it did not include the donations that were made that day.
In addition to those funds, the Pomeroon Oil Mill handed over a $500,000 cheque. The Regal Stationary and Computer Centre donated $300,000 and the company’s softball team donated $30,000; the Guyana Lottery Company and Hand in Hand Group each donated $1 million. Meanwhile, the upper, lower and Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce in association with Little Rock Hotel handed over $5,175,000.
Also, the benefit concert that was hosted by GEMS Theatre and the Princess Hotel last Saturday handed over proceeds amounting to $220,000 to the Committee. Donations also rolled in from the Stewartville Secondary which gave $101,000, Monar Educational Institute $41,000, Rangers Sport Club $20,000 and the staff of Metro 20 bags of clothing.
Manickchand gave assurances that the money will be used to benefit Haiti and none of it is being spent on administrative costs. She also thanked, the “good Guyanese citizens who came forward and donated clothes, oil, pharmaceuticals and crayons.” “The committee thanks you very much,” she said. The minister said the Committee’s efforts were frustrated last week because of the clogged ports which delayed the shipment. However, since then four containers were shipped on Tuesday afternoon and 10 more will be leaving tomorrow.
Manickchand said assurances were given that all the shipments will make it into the Jamaican port by February 3 and then onto the people of Haiti.
Tuesday’s shipment included one container of flour, a container of refined coconut oil, two containers of water from Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and 26 cartoons of used clothing. Today’s shipment will include three containers of rice, one container of food items compliments of the Beharry Company, a container of biscuits compliments of Banks DIH.
Other containers will include water by both Banks DIH and DDL, pharmaceuticals and more clothing. More containers are expected to be shipped in the following week.
Yesterday there were more donations. The Government Information Agency reported that presentations were made by Republic Bank staffers ($300,000), the 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, 2 boxes caned food and Neal and Massy, ($750,000).
