Claudio Valle (left), Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica, converses with Colonel Sydney McKenzie of the Salvation Army (centre) and Dr. Jaslin Salmon, vice-president of the Jamaica Red Cross at the Canadian High Commission yesterday. - Norman Grindley/Staff Photographer
THE CANADIAN Government joined the international donors list yesterday when it gave the equivalent of J$8.4 million to the Salvation Army, the Red Cross and other non-government organisations to assist with the relief effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan.
Another $26.5 million was also donated towards the regional appeal of the International Federation of the Red Cross which will benefit relief efforts in Jamaica and Grenada.
"The Government of Canada is happy to have partnered with the Jamaica Red Cross and the Salvation Army to assist Jamaicans in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan," said Claudio Valle, Canadian High Com-missioner to Jamaica in making the announcement at the Commis-sion in Kingston yesterday. "We are aware that the role we have played is a small part of a larger effort and appreciate the contribution being made by these two organisations."
Commissioner Valle ex-plained that other relief efforts were being pursued for the affected islands, such as cash drives, by the Caribbean diaspora in Canada.
"We just want you to know that Canada cares and that Canada has Jamaica at heart," he said.
Dr. Jaslin Salmon, vice-president of the Jamaica Red Cross thanked the Commissioner for the assistance and explained that the agency would try to make the donations work as hard as possible in assisting hurricane victims.
"This donation will certainly go a long way in helping us to meet the needs of the victims of Ivan and we will use these resources to the best of our ability," he said.
