Suriname youth ambassadors send hurricane relief to Haiti
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| Published on Thursday, September 25, 2008 |
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By Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com
PARAMARIBO, Suriname; After the Suriname government offered Haiti US$125,000 for hurricane relief after several hurricanes lashed the Caribbean neighbour the past weeks, Suriname’s Caricom Youth Ambassadors (CYA) rallied a donation in goods for affected areas in Haiti.
A large quantity of goods were send to Caricom’s headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana, for further shipment to Guyana, youth ambassador Ferranto Dongor told local media.
Just over a week earlier the country’s two CYAs Dongor and Stephanie Kasketie, launched a campaign collecting food items, clothing and other goods from the public.
“Never in our wildest dreams did we expect this overwhelming reaction from the Surinamese community. There was a great response to our appeal and the goods are still pouring. In fact we were very surprised by this manifestation of solidarity,” said Dongor.
While the youth leaders were aiming at loading a small van to take the goods to Guyana, they are now hiring a 5-ton container truck for transportation. The shipment was due to arrive in Georgetown on Wednesday.
On arrival in Haiti, that country’s Caricom Youth Ambassador will coordinate the distribution of the relief aid. According to Dongor several Caricom member states are executing a similar program to assist Haiti in its recovery from the hurricanes.
Foreign Affairs minister Lygia-Kraag-Keteldijk made the announcement on behalf of president Ronald Venetiaan recently that the government has offered Haiti and Cuba each US$125,000 for hurricane relief efforts.
Meanwhile both the president and the minister separately sent letters of condolences and solidarity to the governments of the two countries, expressing deep sorrow and regret for the material damage and loss of human lives caused by the devastating hurricanes.
The human toll has been highest and the needs greatest in Haiti which has been affected by all the major storms to date - Fay, Gustav, Hanna, and Ike.
Suriname and Cuba maintain good and friendly relations, while Suriname is benefitting from several cooperation programs which contributes to the development goals of the nation, the ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
With Haiti there is also close cooperation on numerous fields, while Suriname is home to a large number of Haitian immigrants. | | | | Reads : 762 | | | |
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