Friday, September 3 2010

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CHEQUES GALORE: UWI Campus principal Professor Clement Sankat, second left and Central Bank Governor Ewart Williams, centre are surrounded by corporat...

Several corporate entities yesterday donated over $500,000 to the University of the West Indies (UWI) Haitian Student Fund to help bring 70 Haitian students to the St Augustine Campus.

The cheques were handed over yesterday during a press conference at Central Bank, Independence Square.

On January 12, Haiti was devastated after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the country.

The death figure was in excess of 200,000 and 1.5 million Haitians were left homeless.

Almost all public sector infrastructure in the capital city was wiped out. Most of the university buildings were destroyed and 40 academics and over 200 university students killed.

UWI agreed to facilitate students from Haiti to complete their final year studies. Forty-one from engineering, 12 in Agriculture, 11 from Dentistry, one from Management Studies and five veterinarians to be trained for their Masters degree.

UWI’s Campus Principal Professor Clement Sankat said UWI St Augustine has already decided to contribute over US$730,000 out of US$1.3 million required to bring 70 Haitian students to the St Augustine Campus and added that they are in the process of approaching Government, various organisations and the community at large for the remaining of funds.

“We are appealing to our governments, the private sector, our alumni, staff and students as well as civil society to partner with us in helping to raise more funds for these young students from Haiti in whatever way you can —living expenses, travel or books,” Sankat said. He added that they were looking to raise TT$3 million to support the students while in Trinidad. Central Bank Governor Ewart Williams and chairman of the UWI St Augustine Campus Council and co-ordinator of the initiative said the university has committed to meet the tuition and accommodation costs but needs to seek help to cover the students’ airfares, living expenses and study materials.

“These costs are estimated at around US$6,500 per student or about US$500,000 for the group,” he said.

The companies that donated to the fund include RBTT who gave $65,000; Republic Bank, $124,500; SM Jaleel, $25,000; United Way, $200,000; Export Import Bank of Trinidad and Tobago Bank, $6,500 and UWI Development and Endorsement Fund, $100,000.

Persons interested in making a contribution to the UWI Haiti Relief Fund can do so via Republic Bank, account number, 160 135 528 301.