Caribbean Tourism Organisation activates relief fund to assist Dominica
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is seeking donations for its CTO Relief Fund to provide monetary assistance to Dominica following the recent passage of Tropical Storm Erika.
Dominica is a member of the CTO, whose Relief Fund provides support for member countries impacted by natural disasters.
“The CTO is enlisting the help of Governments and individuals across the region, along with supporters from around the world, to mobilise and encourage assistance for the Government and people of Dominica. The CTO is using all of its offices to facilitate the process,” the organisation said in a release Thursday.
Tropical Storm Erika dumped 12 inches of rain on the island on August 27, causing extensive flooding which killed over 30 people and left damage estimated at US$200 million.
“The time to help Dominica is now. In other times of need, the Caribbean as a region has generously come together to provide assistance to those devastated by natural disasters, and we are confident that this spirit of generosity will be evident once again,” said Hugh Riley, secretary general of the CTO.
Cheques payable to Caribbean Tourism Organization Relief can be mailed to the London office at 22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1BP, UK, or to the Barbados office at Ground Floor, Baobab Tower, Warrens, St Michael, Barbados, BB22026, payable to Caribbean Tourism Organization.
In the United States, cheques payable to the CTO Relief Fund may be mailed to 80 Broad Street, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10004. Contributions to the CTO Relief Fund in the US are not tax deductible.
Persons wishing to make electronic transfers have been asked to contact the Barbados, UK or US offices to get banking details.
The CTO said it is also working with a civic group in the US, the Association of Dominicans in the Northeast — a registered charity based in New Jersey — to mobilise Dominicans, collect relief items and raise funds for the effort. The group will also be hosting several events, the entire proceeds of which will go to the relief effort.
The CTO Relief Fund has been utilised to assist member countries on several occasions in the past, including Haiti after the 2010 earthquake and Grenada following Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
