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357 Still In Shelters In Clarendon
Sixteen shelters are still open in Clarendon housing 357 persons.
According to Rohan Blake, Director of Planning at the Clarendon Parish Council most of the persons are housed at the Bustamante High School, the Portland Cottage All Age School and the Watsonton Primary School.
While many of those sheltering in the schools will be homeless, as they have lost their homes to the hurricane, the Clarendon Parish Council is providing assistance to them with large tents
Mr. Blake also said that a database is being established at the Parish Council to log assistance to the various communities to avoid duplication.
Hotlines for reporting price gouging
The Government of Jamaica has established hotlines for consumers to report any
market abnormalities including price gouging and tied sales or marrying of goods.
Commerce, Science and Technology Minister, Phillip Paulwell pointed out that a survey conducted by the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) indicated that whilst price gouging was not found to a significant degree in the formal sector, extensive price increases had taken place at the secondary level.
The CAC study found that the prices for basic food items and supplies had increased
significantly in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan and some vendors were marrying
certain items with other goods for sale.
Persons are encouraged to call the following hotline numbers to report offences:
929-0033 - 5 or 929-0050 - 1.
The lines are open between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Mondays to Fridays.
Overseas charities send relief items
The Jamaican community in Atlanta in the United States of America has responded
positively to the relief and reconstruction efforts.
Good Works International and the Neil O'Sullivan Foundation, two charity groups based in Atlanta have made donations of medication and relief supplies.
The items, provided by a number of corporate companies throughout Atlanta and other parts of the United States, will be air lifted to Jamaica within the next two weeks.
Atlanta-based Relief Drive and Radiothon
And Jamaica's Honorary Consul to Atlanta, Vin Martin has informed that the Consulate
established a Hurricane Ivan Relief Fund and so far over US$10,000 has been
collected.
Mr. Martin also announced that there would be a massive relief drive from September
24 to 26 at the Hillside Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Georgia.
The relief drive will take the form of a radiothon, which will involve the two top radio stations in Atlanta, V-103 FM and 104.1 FM broadcasting from the venue throughout the weekend and members of the public are invited to call in their pledges.
The radiothon is organized by the Union of Jamaica Organisation in Atlanta and will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m each day.
The money collected will be used to purchase relief supplies which will be sent to Jamaica.
Jamaicans in New York mobilized
An emergency meeting of Jamaican nationals in New York was convened to mobilize the community's response to the relief efforts in Jamaica.
An appeal letter with a list of urgently needed items was circulate and Consul General, Dr. Basil Bryan said that a Jamaica Hurricane Ivan Relief Fund 2004 was established. Cheques and money orders are to be made payable to the Fund and all monies received will be acknowledged with an official receipt.
Air Jamaica offers special fares
Air Jamaica is offering a special fare for persons traveling to Jamaica [get
clip as this bit of information came from the New York office] and will allow
one additional piece of luggage per person until October 14.
Consulate in Miami establishes relief fund
The Jamaican Consulate in Miami has opened a 'Hurricane Ivan Relief Fund' in
collaboration with the Wachovia Bank in Florida.
Monetary donations can be made at any Wachovia Bank, account number 20,000-2360-6489.
Meanwhile, several Jamaican community groups and businesses have collaborated with the Consulate to assist the island's relief effort.
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