Executive Council
January 26, 2010
Prime Minister of Haiti Thanks Province for Generosity
The Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of
Newfoundland and Labrador, today received a phone call
from the Prime Minister of Haiti, His Excellency
Jean-Max Bellerive. Prime Minister Bellerive expressed
on behalf of his people, a deep appreciation and thanks
to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador for their
generosity in the aftermath of the devastating
earthquake of January 11.
"I was honoured to
accept this phone call of gratitude from Prime Minister
Bellerive on behalf of our province," said Premier
Williams. "Our province's reputation prevails as we
rally together and raise significant funds for the Haiti
relief effort and words cannot express how deeply proud
I am of the remarkable contributions Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians have made to assist the people of Haiti
affected by this unimaginable tragedy. People have
opened their hearts and more importantly their wallets,
and Prime Minister Bellerive asked that I
pass along to the people of the province his genuine
appreciation for this generosity."
From St. John's to Port aux Basques,
St. Anthony to Nain, and all communities in between, the
people of Newfoundland and Labrador have stepped up and
organized fundraisers, telethons and other events to
raise money for Haiti. To date, the people of the
province have raised more than $1.8 million for Haiti as
that country works to rebuild communities and lives in
the aftermath of the earthquake.
This figure includes the donation from
the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador of $1
million, which was made on behalf of all the people of
the province. This Provincial Government contribution
was directed to the regional chapter of the Canadian Red
Cross.
Some of the fundraisers in the
province included: a Steele Communications telethon Hope
for Haiti; the "From One Island to Another" event held
at MUN; a special fund raising service at the Full
Gospel Tabernacle in Glovertown; Scotia Recycling set up
a donation account in their depots in Mount Pearl,
Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook and
Stephenville; and many schools in the province are
holding successful fundraising events.
"I wish to sincerely
thank every single Newfoundlander and Labradorian who is
giving to the best of their ability to ensure the people
of Haiti have the means to rebuild their lives," said
the Premier. "It is very easy to take for granted what
we have, so it is extremely heartening to see the
genuine outpouring of compassion of people not just here
in our province, but across the globe."
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2010 01 26 11:25 a.m.
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