6 wk post Ivan Grenada report/plea

[caribepr]

This comes from stormcarib.com. I know many in the US are also in dire straits from the effects of the hurricanes, but if you can help, this seems to be yet another place with people in serious need. As the poster says, many small contributions add up...

Status In Grenada 6 weeks after Ivan
* From: "Paradise Bay" <paradisebay AT caribsurf.com>
* Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 16:09:32 -0500


Dear All,
 
When I started to send reports and photo's of the damage in Grenada to you, I would never have imagined that it would be necessary to be involved so long in aid work. Since some of you are added to the list later I will summarise what happened after Ivan did his devastating work.
 
Since nobody else takes care of the population of the country (32,4% is under the poverty limit) and I am in the position to help thanks to my experience, background, contacts and communications. I get a lot of operational support from Oxfam (an English foundation), GR3 (Medical University), the US Peace Corps, several government agencies, Grenadians abroad etc. It is far more than a day job and I have no time left to manage the reconstruction of our hotel. In Grenada I will not find a candidate, so it looks like. Therefore I repeat my request:
 
When you know anybody able to take charge of the reconstruction (at friendly conditions) let me know asap
 
Must be able to manage contractors and day workers and work out Bill of Materials, receive materials, make/check plannings etc. Would live in the house. Now its more like camping, but next week it will be more back to normal as we will have a bigger generator by then.
 
The atached Word document describes a nationwide seed distribution program, which we are now implementing. We are also looking to get big volumes of vitamin pills. I talked to a doctor yesterday, who confirmed that vitamin deficiencies are already affecting older and sick people. We approach companies with the request to donate them. If that does not work we will need to buy them. But without any financial support, I can´t keep up. The gifts we received made it possible for me to stay afloat and feed 180 families plus areas where we received reports that the need was high, but I used up moneys I claimed back from suppliers I prepaid to continue as help is -understandably- drying up.
 
The same doctor also told me that there is also a shortage of proteins. I am  not surprised, I have seen people who were eating rice. And I mean only rice! If anybody receiving this email has contacts in the fish or meat canning industry, please use them.
The Red Cross and other official help programs are terminating. But the poor people who have no more money can not go to the forest anymore to get breadfruits, mango's, bananas, sapadillas and many other fruits. Now for many of them and for the first time in their lives, they are confronted with hunger.
And I do not need to explain to you what social and security side affects this brings.
 
So I need help and rest assured that your help will go directly to the people that really need it. With the support of Oxfam, which is a GREAT organisation I can get all operational help I need (trucks, drivers, etc.). We work extremely efficient. We can use food (canned fish, meat and vegetables, rice, mashed potato powder, flour anything in that line is welcome) and we need a lot, because if my information, our group is the only one next to some local church and private iniatives, that will try to help them overcome this difficult time. We aish to hold on until Christmas, then the vegetables from the seeds will take over. I will then dismantle my organisation and transfer all data and know-how to a different foundation.
 
If you want to help with a financial contribution: ING Bank Bussum, International IBAN nr: NL90INGB, acc. 65.84.54.382,  J. Post, Paradise Bay, Grenada bic/swift nr. ING NL2A. If you can help with goods, cloth or transport, please email me what you have and I will arrange a forwarding address. But we need it fast! If you have only a small amount, do it still. If many send a small contribution it helps as well!
 
So contact your school, club and ask their support. Let them i.e. collect money for a container (about US$ 3,600). Call supermarkets to check if they have damaged items they are willing to donate, but no expired items please. Email this to your customers, suppliers, trade organisations, or better your address book
 
Spend a little money or time to let us continue. The friendly people in Grenada will be very thankful. I hate to beg, it's the first time in my life. But it is very necessary.
 
Use your contacts and beg for Grenada.
 
Thank you for your support,
James Post
++1-473-407-3715