Donation drives and a telethon are among the Virgin Islands’ ongoing efforts to assist Jamaica and other islands devastated last week by Hurricane Melissa.
Last Thursday, the Association of Jamaican Residents (BVI) hosted a townhall meeting at the New Testament Church of God Church Hall in Baughers Bay to discuss the response to the storm, which passed over Jamaica at Category Five.
“There was excellent representation from a wide cross-section of Jamaican national residents in the BVI,” said Paul Dennis, the Jamaican honorary consul for the VI. “There was also representation from a series of civic organisations, service clubs and BVI interests, who were very supportive of Jamaica and the obvious recovery efforts which we would need to undertake.”
Mr. Dennis added that Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley and Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn spoke at the meeting.
Both leaders, he said, “pledged their support to assist in any way that they could with recovery efforts for the people of Jamaica.”
Donation drive
Among the efforts discussed at the meeting was the association’s monetary donation drive, through which residents can donate via cash or cheque at any of ten business locations across Tortola (see sidebar at right).
The association is collaborating on this initiative with the charitable arm of Radio Jamaica, Mr. Dennis said.
He added that the funds “will go directly to the purchase of relief items in Jamaica.”
NPOs in action
Additionally, Mr. Dennis said some of the territory’s nonprofit organisations, including Rotary and Lions clubs, plan to host a telethon from 2-10 p.m. Sunday with the goal to raise $100,000 for Jamaica and Haiti, which was also badly hit by Hurricane Melissa.
The BVI Red Cross is raising money too. Others are helping by hosting drives to collect items to send to Jamaica, such as the one hosted by the New Testament Church of God in Baughers Bay, according to Mr. Dennis.
“The level of solidarity and support is there the BVI community at-large expressed,” he said. “[It] was really quite overwhelming, and we were really gratified by that.”
On Monday in the House of Assembly, the premier reiterated the government’s support for relief efforts, but he did not provide specifics.
“As Jamaica begins its recovery and reconstruction, I wish to assure this honourable House and the public that the Virgin Islands will do its part to provide assistance where we are able,” he said. “The spirit of regional solidarity which defines us as a Caribbean people compels us to extend the hand of support in this time of great need.”
In the HOA
Government Communications Director Karia Christopher told the Beacon that Mr. Wheatley plans to make an official statement soon to explain more about the relief efforts.
“Government is currently in the process of coordinating the various agencies to make a relevant decision,” Ms. Christopher told the Beacon on Tuesday.
