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Corporate Jamaica Responding to OPDEM Relief Desk

August 31, 2007

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Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Ronald Jackson, has said that the response from corporate Jamaica to the Relief Information Desk set up by the Office to solicit pledges has been ” really, really encouraging” with additional companies coming on board since Monday (Aug. 27).
“We’re close to 16 corporate companies locally that have come on board through the ODPEM,” Mr. Jackson told JIS News on Thursday (August 30).
Among those that were “quickly off the mark” in donating to ODPEM are National Commercial Bank, Pepsi, Courts Jamaica, Wata, Netlink and Jambisco, with additional companies including Cable and Wireless and Digicel pledging their support this week.
He noted that Cable and Wireless has already shipped relief items into the island. “They have been working with us to find out where there are communities that have not been given that level of attention such as the Caribbean Terrace, Portland Cottage and Old Harbour Bay. I’ve referred them to look at Manchioneal and Long Bay in Portland and Duhaney Pen in St. Thomas. I’m waiting on a confirmation on which of the three or whether they are working in all three,” Mr. Jackson added.
He said that the company will be distributing water, food, bedding and tarpaulin in the areas. Pledges have also been received from the American Chamber of Commerce, which Mr. Jackson informed, has in its membership, a number of local companies, which have also pledged support.
In the meantime, the Director General told JIS News that ODPEM is now mapping all pledges received so far against what has gone out and where the needs are, so as to identify any gaps. “Then I will present them (companies) either this evening or tomorrow morning with a new needs list based on the gaps after mapping,” he informed.
He added that others such as Jamaica National and Victoria Mutual Building Society have been pledging through other routes such as non-governmental charity organisations like the United Way of Jamaica. “But they are keen on helping,” he concluded.
The information desk, which was created by ODPEM for persons, who wished to donate relief supplies to the organization, is manned by an information officer.
The ODPEM can be contacted at 928-5111-3 or 928-8942.

Last Updated: August 31, 2007

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