Following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago mandated the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) to coordinate and manage the relief efforts to the disaster struck nation. This initiative required the assistance of other key players and partners such as the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA), the United Way of Trinidad and Tobago (UWTT), the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, the Trinidad and Tobago Cadet Force and the Municipal Corporations of Trinidad and Tobago.
To date, two (2) 20 - foot containers weighing 45,000 lbs of TTD$312,600.00 in value have been delivered to Haiti (through the Sub Regional Focal Point of Jamaica). These containers contained water, First Aid supplies, canned food items and construction material. (The items on these two (2) containers were collected primarily from the ODPM coordinated collection nodes: six (6) additional containers of items from BPTT were also shipped on this same vessel bringing the total to eight (8)).
On February 18, four (4) 40 - foot containers weighing 188,695 lbs of TTD $1,090,800.00 in value was shipped to offer continued relief to those affected. This shipment contained water, household supplies, medical supplies, toiletries and clothing.
Major donors to the Haiti Relief Effort include the following:
- Individual citizens of Trinidad and Tobago
- Atwell’s Private School
- Las Cuevas Primary School
- bpTT
- PETROTRIN
- South Chamber Industry and Commerce Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
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- Special Anti-Crime Unit (SAUTT)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- TTPost
- Huggins
- Alstons Shipping Limited
- Southern Logistics Limited
- Dynamics Transport
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- PLIPDECO
- Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
- Blue Waters
- Water One
- TATIL
- Walcott Holdings
- ANSA McAL
- Members of the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce
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The ODPM is extremely appreciative of all the organisations (listed above) that have rendered assistance to this project. Commendation is also extended to the members of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, the Trinidad and Tobago Cadet Force and the general citizenry of Trinidad and Tobago.
Additionally, we applaud the monetary contributions which have been received thus far and we encourage citizens to continue donating to the First Citizens Bank – Haiti Relief Fund – Account No. 1817065.
The ODPM continues to affirm that the citizens of our twin island republic ought to continue to be proactive and PLAN PREPARE and PRESERVE in the face of natural and man made hazards. It is only through planning and preparing, we can ensure that the well being of our citizens is preserved.