Trinidad and Tobago is ready and willing to assist Jamaica following the devastating after-effects of Hurricane Melissa.
This from Minister of Health, Dr. Lackram Bodoe, as he addressed the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s programme to strengthen and prevent outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases.
“The government of Trinidad and Tobago, of course, stands in solidarity with our major CARICOM partner, Jamaica. The Prime Minister would have, as early as Monday, implemented and directed the effort in terms of collection drive, which is ongoing. As I speak right now, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health is meeting with his counterparts in other relevant Ministries to try and coordinate an effort.”
He noted that CARPHA had already prepared a package which could be ready to leave Trinidad and Tobago as early as Thursday, if required, to begin providing tangible assistance to the people of Jamaica.
“On Monday evening I was part of a virtual meeting with the CARICOM Health Ministers in terms of trying to anticipate, but of course, no one could have anticipated on Monday evening what would have transpired yesterday in Jamaica. Our empathies go out to those who have lost their lives in Jamaica and, of course, we give the commitment on behalf of the Ministry of Health and the government to go forward.”