Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says T&T will provide assistance to Haiti if requested following passage of the Category 4 Hurricane Matthew, which hit the Caribbean nation yesterday.
Rowley said so in response to questions from reporters after yesterday’s launch of the PNM’s 60th anniversary Nation Building Calypso Competition at Balisier House, Port-of-Spain.
The finals of the competition will take place at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, on November 12 from 7 pm.
Asked to comment on the hurricane which had just started to affect the country, Rowley responded: “Oh, poor Haiti. Every time there is something bad happening in the Caribbean Haiti has to get a piece of it.”
Rowley said the economic situation in T&T would not hamper its generosity to a Caribbean nation in need.
“Haiti is a member of Caricom. We are Caribbean people and if there is anything that we can do in the event that they need help, T&T will always be prepared to share what we have with those who are in greatest need.
“Regardless to what our (economic) circumstances are, we will always have enough to share with our brothers and sisters who might be in greater need,” he added.
Jamaica was spared the worst of the hurricane and Rowley said he spoke with that country’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday. He did not elaborate on the contents of the discussion.
At the time of yesterday’s interview, Rowley said he had not received any reports of the effects of the hurricane in Haiti.
He said: “We have to wait and hopefully it is not (too bad) because they haven’t even recovered from the earthquake (in 2010) yet and to be hit by what is one of the most powerful storms passing through (was unfortunate).
“It is a big hurricane so I think it is a real threat.”
International media reported at least seven deaths from the hurricane. Four died in the Dominican Republic, one in Haiti, one in St Vincent and the Grenadines and one in Colombia.
Rowley also advised nationals to be more responsible in preparation for possible natural disasters. He said the notion that “God is a Trini” should not be used to prevent citizens from being responsible during periods of natural disaster.
In response to another question, Rowley said while the State agencies will do all they could to ensure they were ready if a hurricane was approaching the country there could never be “perfect preparation.”
The Prime Minister said citizens should be mindful that “the time to prepare for a hurricane is not during the event but before. Don’t give up your responsibility to anybody.
“God will take care of everybody but we can’t just relinquish that to a God head. He will take care of us but we too have to take care of ourselves in the process,” he added.