The Executive Management Team of The University of the West Indies met on Thursday, January 14, to coordinate its assistance to the people of Haiti in the wake of the earthquake that has devastated that country.  

Two engineers from the St. Augustine Campus will be part of a Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) assessment team and medical personnel from the Mona campus who would accompany Prime Minister Bruce Golding of Jamaica on his reconnaissance mission that left Jamaica for Haiti today.  

A team comprising psychologists, engineers, public health practitioners and other technical experts is being assembled and will be ready to provide assistance, as needed, through an appropriate lead agency.  

In addition, an appeal is being made to all staff members and students across the entire University to contribute to the emergency fund being set up by the Vice Chancellor.   Special bank accounts will be opened in all the UWI countries to receive the contributions.

The devastation occasioned by the earthquake in Haiti has deeply affected everyone in the region and The UWI community will respond generously, in cash as well as in kind, to alleviate the suffering of the people of Haiti.

Consideration is also being given to ways in which the UWI can assist Haiti in the mid and long-term future.