UNDP gives US$72,000 to ODPEM

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Thursday presented a cheque valued at US$72,000 to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in support of Hurricane Ivan relief efforts.

Juan-Carlos Espinola, the UNDP’s resident representative, made the donation to Dr Barbara Carby, director-general of the ODPEM.

According to the UNDP, US$10,000 is for support to farmers and fishermen in affected areas, US$50,000 will be used to fly in food and water to marooned communities, while the remaining US$12,000 will provide relief assistance, food and water to Manchester communities, including Royal Flat, Content, New Hall, Epping Forest, John’s Hall, Huntly, Asia, Old England and Cedar Grove.

Espinola, who commended the ODPEM for effective management of the relief effort, said that the UNDP has also pledged US$100,000 to the reconstruction efforts and another US$200,000 would be made available shortly.

Red Cross gives counselling

The National headquarters of the Jamaica Red Cross, through its Disaster Mental Health Team, has given counselling support to persons who have been affected by Hurricane Ivan, as well as to staff and volunteers of the Jamaica Red Cross.

To date, the Disaster Mental Health Team, which comprises 26 psychiatrists and psychologists, and is headed by Dr Angela Gordon Stair of the University of the West Indies, has visited and counselled persons in badly-affected areas such as Portland Cottage in Clarendon, Harbour View in Kingston, and Belvedere in St Andrew.

The team has also done a session at the Kingston and St Andrew Branch of the Red Cross. “Our experiences confirm the continued importance of providing mental health services in the wake of a disaster,” said one of the team members, “…persons were appreciative of the caring support.”

£22,000 raised in England

A sum of £22,000 (J$2.4 million) was raised for the Hurricane Ivan Relief Fund at a tea party and social organised by the staff of the High Commission and Jamaican government agencies in London, JIS News has reported.

The event, held October 8 at the Jamaican High Commission, saw more than 160 persons enjoying a very entertaining afternoon. In addition to an extensive menu, including the traditional high tea, there were also callaloo quiche, sweet potato and cornmeal puddings, Jamaican hot chocolate and rum punch.

A highlight of the evening’s proceedings was the auction of a six-point blue sapphire diamond ring donated by Jamaican-born Lady Colin Campbell. Other prizes were donated by Air Jamaica, British Airways, Sandals Resorts, SuperClubs, Sunset Resorts, Sandcastles, BlackAmber Books, MacMillan Caribbean, Promoting Our Heritaage, and textile artist Doreen Gittens.

PricewaterhouseCoopers donates $1 million

PricewaterhouseCoopers on Tuesday made a contribution of J$1 million in cash as well as the services of senior manager Jacqueline Somers-King to the Office of National Reconstruction (ONR) for a period of six months.

The presentation was made by Everton McDonald, territorial senior partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, to Danville Walker, CEO of the Office of National Reconstruction at the Oxford Road offices of the ONR.

All shelters in Clarendon closed

The last two remaining shelter-seekers in Clarendon, who were being housed at the Portland Cottage Primary School, have been relocated by the Clarendon Parish Council.

This means that the only remaining registered shelter in the parish is now closed, according to JIS News.

Rohan Blake, director of planning at the Clarendon Parish Council, told JIS News that the two persons were relocated to the Portland Cottage Community Centre as an interim measure, while they await action by relatives who are in contact with the council.

“We have given these persons tarpaulins and mattresses and have made arrangements for them to stay at the community centre for a short while, as we expect that they will find shelter with their relatives by about October 19,” he said.