THE Caribbean Community (Caricom) is expected to announce today the region’s response to Tuesday’s devastating earthquake in Haiti.

High-level members of Caricom, including Caricom Chairman Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, General Secretary Edwin Carrington and Prime Minister of Barbados David Thompson met at Jamaica House in Kingston last night.

“The meeting will be to discuss Caricom’s response,” Information Minister Daryl Vaz told the Observer last night.

Jamaica has been chosen as the regional hub for the relief effort in the impoverished nation, which is located to the north-east of Jamaica.

Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Dr Kenneth Baugh said Jamaica will also be the refuelling point for aircraft taking relief supplies and personnel to Haiti.

He said the country will waive navigational and landing fees for such aircraft, operators of which will cover their refuelling costs. Adequate warehouse facilities for the sorting and temporary storage of relief items, are being provided at both international airports.

Charity organisations play their part

* Jamaica Red Cross is to send a contingent of trained and qualified people to support the relief efforts.

* Food For The Poor Jamaica is also offering logistical and technical support.

Financial institutions join in relief efforts

* FirstCaribbean International Bank has joined its parent company, CIBC, in donating a combined CA$100,000 to the Haiti earthquake relief efforts. Donations to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund can be made at any FirstCaribbean branch across the Caribbean.

* Royal Bank of Canada, parent company of RBTT Financial Group, yesterday announced a CA$100,000 donation to the Red Cross to support relief and humanitarian efforts in Haiti.

* All Scotiabank branches and locations are acting as collection points for non-perishable food items, clothing and bottled water. All Jamaicans are being invited to drop off donations at any of their 40 locations across the island.

* Accounts have been opened at Scotiabank and the National Commercial bank to accept donations on behalf of the Red Cross and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management respectively.

* NEM Insurance Company has committed to donating three container loads of ‘Wata’ to Haiti.

Doctors on call

Dr Winston De La Haye, president of the Medical Association of Jamaica, says the association is awaiting word from the Ministry of Health and the Jamaica Defence Force to determine how best to help in the provision of medical assistance to the thousands of injured.