THE United Way of Jamaica yesterday added itself to the list of charitable organisations assisting with hurricane relief efforts, with the launch of its Hurricane Dean Restoration Fund yesterday.

Aiming to amass $100 million in funds from corporate and individual donors by September 28 this year, the United Way of Jamaica will be channelling the funds towards the agricultural sector, fisheries, the restoration of damaged early childhood education institutions, community centres and church halls, among other buildings.

According to the chairman of the Board of Governors for the charitable organisation, Alvaro Casserly, special assistance will be given to the agricultural and fisheries sectors under the restoration fund.

“In agriculture, emphasis is being given to the production of cash crops. The objective is to help restore agricultural and farming production so that within four to six months, there will be an adequate supply of local produce to help feed our people,” he said at yesterday’s launch at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

According to Casserly, the funds for the agricultural sector will be channelled through the Jamaica Agricultural Society, the Jamaica 4-H Clubs and the Fishermen’s Co-operative.

“Under the United Way system we will ensure that it (the funds) are spent on the work for which it was allocated,” Casserly explained, in an obvious attempt to assure donors that the funds would be handled with full transparency and accountability.

He said that the fund had already received US$100,000 (JMD $6,932,102.83) from Marubeni Caribbean Power Holdings; $3.5 million from GraceKennedy and Co Limited; $10 million from Western Union and $100,000 from the Victoria Mutual Building Sociey – which has also pledged to provide 350 tarpaulins.

Persons seeking to make contributions to the restoration fund can send cheques to the United Way of Jamaica Headquarters or make deposits to account 061054677 at the Duke Street Branch of National Commercial Bank. Donors who want their contributions to go towards specific charities or relief efforts can also do so under the fund.

“The United Way of Jamaica is encouraging corporate entities and individuals to give generously. The needs are great and urgent and we would like to be in a position to act quickly so give early and generously,” Casserly urged.

Yesterday, Lawrence Madden, CEO of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, said the society was currently trying to salvage what was left of the sector.

“The [situation] is quite bad at the moment. So we are moving quickly now to resuscitate. Crops that are in the field now that we can save we are quickly moving now with feritiliser, plant food, herbicide so that we can, over the next couple of months, be ready to have foodstuffs on our shelves,” he said, adding that plans were underway to expand their relief efforts to provide assistance for farmers whose homes were damaged by the hurricane.