Embassy
of Jamaica Mobilises Support for Hurricane Victims
WASHINGTON, D.C.,(JIS): Thursday, September 16, 2004
The Embassy of Jamaica in Washington is continuing to reach out to
the Jamaican community, and Americans at large, to update them on
the devastation caused to the island by Hurricane Ivan, and to solicit
assistance.
The Mission has been designated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Foreign Trade as the main emergency co-ordinating hub for North
America, regarding events in the island in the aftermath of the
hurricane.
On Friday last week, the Embassy established an emergency phone
bank, which fielded calls from anxious Jamaicans, as well as Americans
with relatives who were tourists in Jamaica, or expatriate workers
on the island.
In addition, the office of the Jamaica Information Service (JIS)
in Washington also maintained contact with broadcast and print media
throughout the United States and maintained a website for the Jamaican
embassy, which frequently posted updates regarding the situation
on the ground.
Embassy staff and members of the local Jamaican community in Washington
also assisted in manning emergency phones at the mission throughout
the weekend, and were also very critical to the process of communicating
timely and detailed information, regarding developments on the ground,
to the Jamaican community and the American public in general.
For his part, the Jamaican Ambassador to the United States, Professor
Gordon Shirley, has publicly recognized the Jamaican community in
the US for "its strong sense of community and loyalty to Jamaica",
and praised those who had pledged assistance and supported the Embassy's
outreach initiative.
Ambassador Shirley said that he was touched by the many expressions
of support, the deep sense of patriotism of Jamaica in the overseas
community, and the desire to rally to the aid of Jamaica in times
of national crisis.
"The community's many expressions of concern and its tremendous
response to appeals for support clearly underscore the characteristic
generosity of the Jamaican people, both at home and abroad,"
he said.
Since Friday last, Ambassador Shirley has conducted several interviews
with major American media, such as NBC News, ABC News and Fox Network.
The Ambassador used those forums to explain to the broader American
public the extent of the devastation occasioned by Hurricane Ivan,
and he also outlined the challenges which continue to face the Jamaican
people in providing relief to destitute Jamaicans and others affected
by the storm, as well as to rebuild critical infrastructure that
has been compromised by the hurricane.
He also held an emergency meeting with heads of community organizations
in the Washington area to update them on the situation on the ground
and sharing with them basic requests regarding emergency relief
equipment and supplies which were forwarded by the Office of Disaster
Preparedness and emergency Management (ODPEM).
Ambassador Shirley was expected to meet with the World Bank, the
International Monetary Fund and the Inter-American Development Bank
today (September 15), to update them on the situation on the ground
and to also acquaint them with areas in which they can be of assistance.
On Thursday (September 16), he will journey to Philadelphia, where
he will address a meeting of the Jamaican community in the city,
along with the Jamaican Honorary Consul in Philadelphia, Dr. Alston
Meade. He will brief Jamaicans in Philadelphia on relief activities
and to explore, with community leaders, ways in which needed assistance
can be channeled to the island to assist those who have been left
destitute by Hurricane Ivan.
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