Jamaica’s Delegation Off to Haiti

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding, accompanied by Minister with responsibility for Information, Daryl Vaz, Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, and other members of rescue and emergency agencies, are now on their way to Haiti.
The delegation will determine the immediate assistance to be rendered by Jamaica in conjunction with international partners in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake which hit that country on Tuesday.
Minister Vaz said the delegation is going to Haiti to offer Jamaica as a logistic centre and would be providing warehousing for other countries wishing to bring relief supplies to stockpile in Jamaica.
Mr. Vaz disclosed that information reaching the Government is that fuel in Haiti has been contaminated and as a result Jamaica would be offering refuelling facilities and the use of the Reynolds Pier in Ocho Rios St. Ann.
Mr. Vaz said assistance is coming from almost every sector of the Jamaican society. The Media Association of Jamaica working with Digicel, will be setting up a radio station to open up communications with the country.
Air Jamaica will also play its role he said, providing a special charter service to Haiti tomorrow which will fly down medical staff and bring back Jamaicans who might be stranded there. Mr. Vaz is urging Jamaicans who have relatives in Haiti to contact the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) for flight details. The contact person at ODPEM is Ms. Coleen Douglas at tel: 928-5111-4, mobile 886-1849 and email: coleendouglas@hotmail.com.
The information Minister disclosed that Prime Minister Golding is expected to host a number of Caribbean Leaders tomorrow morning in Jamaica to co-ordinate Caricom’s assistance efforts.
Further details of Jamaica’s involvement in the rescue operations will be provided by Minister Vaz once the delegation arrives in Haiti and is able to assess the nature of assistance required.