Earthquake in Haiti brings to fore need for establishment of regional emergency fund

Thursday, January 14, 2010 – The earthquake disaster in Haiti has brought to the fore the need for the establishment of an emergency/disaster fund for the Caribbean region.

Talks have been held on the establishment of such a fund but no major headway has been made in its creation.

Press Secretary to the prime minister Darnley Lebourne, says the Government of St. Lucia will advocate within regional forums like CARICOM for the establishment of some kind of disaster fund, to allow for a direct and immediate response to disasters within the region.

As the region prepares to make its contribution in the form of assistance to Haiti, a CARICOM delegation is now assessing the situation on the ground, in order to determine how the Community, as a whole, proceeds.

“We know that in more recent times in the absence of that fund, the Trinidad and Tobago Petroleum Fund was used to respond to situations like this and we are contributing to that fund. But I think we need something that goes beyond Trinidad and the wider region. From a governmental stand point, we can look towards mobilization of external international support,” Lebourne said.

The death toll in Haiti continues to rise and authorities fear that it could run up to one hundred thousand. Bodies are being piled up on the streets of the capital while the living try to manage their ordeal.

Mr. Lebourne says Saint Lucia and other Caribbean countries can take stock of this Haiti disaster.

“The reality is that the Caribbean fits within a disaster zone. When we bear in mind that the islands are right within the track of hurricanes that visit the region on an annual basis, and the fact that the islands sit within an earthquake belt, the need for such a fund is even more critical,” the press secretary noted.

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