KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Relief supplies collected by the staff of JAMPRO are to be shipped soon to Haiti for people who were affected by Hurricane Matthew, which devastated the island recently.

The items were loaded yesterday at JAMPRO’s offices in New Kingston and taken to Food For the Poor, which will ship them to Haiti. The initiative was supported by exporters who do business with the agency.

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Ruel Reid, who was on hand to assist with loading the items, said Jamaicans should show their gratefulness for not being hit by the storm, by supporting the Haiti relief effort.

He said the staff at the agency has shown goodwill to their Caribbean neighbours, and the gesture must be commended.

“This is an opportunity for corporate entities and individuals to contribute to the Haiti Relief Fund,” the minister told JIS News.

For his part, Vice President for Export and Market Development at JAMPRO, Robert Scott, said the agency secured consumer goods through a collaborative effort with several manufacturing and export companies.

“Some of the products are syrups, juices, canned peas, pasta, bleach, and soaps that are very useful at a time like this,” he told JIS News.

He lauded the staff of JAMPRO for their “care and concern”, noting that the exporters “bonded together”, to give the products.

Jamaicans wishing to assist Haiti may deposit funds to the NCB Kingston account: 212-387-304 or make donations in kind to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Haining Road, in Kingston.

Exporters who supported the drive were Very Amazing Products Ltd, Island Products Manufacturing Ltd, Salada Foods Jamaica Ltd, Canco Ltd, Blue Power Ltd, Norsai Enterprises Ltd, and Jamaica Macaroni Factory.

Transportation was provided by Fabian Chung, Managing Director, Fair Trade Auto.