Dear Editor

Described in the Caribbean Business Report (Observer — Friday, January 14, 2011) as “one of the greatest feats of philanthropy seen in the Caribbean” … the rehabilitation of the Iron Market (Le Merche Hyppolite de Port-au-Prince) by Mr Denis O’Brien and his wife Catherine in their personal capacity, must not be treated as a passing philanthropic effort but as an indubitable contribution towards helping the less fortunate of Haiti.

The tour de force by the O’Briens must be recognised by all of Caricom for what it really is … a monument to what is good in humanity.

Here we have the biblical expression being manifested …. “and the word was made flesh”.

The O’Briens have shown the world what honour and commitment really means.

The rebuilding of this edifice will have a direct impact on the lives of many ordinary Haitians as there will now be a structured facility from which commercial activity can be carried on by small traders and vendors.

Mr O’Brien in the interview with Caribbean Business Report mentioned that he would like to see the 1.2 million people who have been affected by the earthquake be well on their way to being properly housed; and suggested that transitional housing may have to be considered before getting long-term accommodation.

The United States and Canada are countries which produce an abundance of lumber. The Americans are experts in the art of house construction that involve lumber. In certain US states which suffer from tornadoes and twisters the citizens there reconstructed and rehabilitated their homes in a matter of weeks in the aftermath of these natural phenomena.

I wonder if former US President, Bill Clinton who is the United Nations Special Envoy to Haiti would want to focus his attention in obtaining some expertise and supplies from those areas of the US to assist with housing for the Haitians.

I hope that this tremendous demonstration by Denis and Catherine O’Brien may serve as a catalyst to move the consciences of the ‘donors’ who to date have not honoured their pledges. Could Caricom come together and bestow awards on Denis and Catherine O’Brien?

Mr Ricky Singh (Is Caricom too timid to speak up for Haiti? — Sunday Observer, January 16, 2011) in an insightful presentation commented: “…despite its disadvantages in financial and material resource limitations, the community’s intellectual and diplomatic skills would be carefully employed to help honour a moral obligation for Haitians to get the most practical and timely responses form the international community to rise from the ruins of the earthquake’s devastation…”

I have to support Mr Singh in his analysis and hark back to the time of a Michael Manley who would have led the charge in this effort. But Caricom has formidable leaders such as Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Caricom Envoy PJ Patterson, Most Honourable Edward Seaga, Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller, President Bharrat Jagdeo and Prime Minister Gonsalves to name a few who can transcend the “apparent timidity” … “and go on the offensive with an aggressive campaign to push the international ‘donors’ to honour their firm pledges”.

Finally, I know that John Maxwell would have been pleased with the work of Denis and Catherine O’Brien for Haiti and on behalf of John I salute Denis and Catherine O’Brien.

C Johnson

PO Box 392

Spanish Town

St Catherine