One week after Hurricane Matthew devastated Haiti leaving a trail of death and destruction, the City of San Fernando has taken the lead by being the first corporation to launch a relief effort that would see eight 40-feet containers filled with supplies being shipped to that country.
The first container is expected to leave within the next week, filled with water, pharmaceuticals, clothes, toiletries, hardware and building supplies, San Fernando Mayor Kazim Hosein, who initiated the Help 4 Haiti project in partnership with the Barakah Foundation, said.
That first container has been placed on the Harris Promenade and will be opened from 8 am to 9 pm daily for citizens to make their contribution. Hosein they will not be accepting cash donations.
At the launch, which took place at the Band Stand, Harris Promenade, yesterday, Hosein said custom broker Saeed Mohammed, the owner/managing director of Eagles Transport will handle the shipment for free.
“Everything here is volunteerism,” Hosein said.
Mohammed, said he it was an honour and a privilege to be part of this humanitarian effort.
“No one has ever become poor by giving to charity,” he said, as he urged citizens to be part of this noble effort.
Venezuelan Ambassador to T&T Coromoto Godoy-Calderon also joined in the effort to help Haiti by offering some 2,500 cases of water.
She said this gesture was to show the wider community that even though her country was experiencing its own hardship, they would always be there for Haiti and any other Caribbean country in need.
“Because we are brothers and sisters, we are one people. We feel the region is one big nation,” she said.
Chairman of Sangre Grande Regional Corporation Terry Rondon, who was present, said even though he served one of the poorer districts in the country, he arrived with a truck load full of supplies.
Co-chair of the charity drive former Works Minister Sadiq Baksh, said the people of this country are blessed with the opportunity to help themselves and should be happy to provide the basic food, clothes and shelter for the less fortunate in Haiti.
He challenged Hosein to partner with one of the cities in Haiti to continue the effort.
Inshan Ishmael, CEO of the Barakah Foundation, also urged all not to wait for a disaster to happen but continue to help Haiti.