One year after the destruction caused by Hurricane Ivan, Digicel has stepped in to assist ongoing recovery efforts with a notable donation that will be put to good use.
The Cayman Islands National Recovery Fund has announced that Digicel has pledged a contribution of CI$50,000 to be used to reconstruct the home of 75-year-old Mrs. Doris Mejia, which was made completely uninhabitable by the high winds and waters of Hurricane Ivan, states a press release.
Mrs. Mejia’s home suffered severe roof and structural damage, and all contents of her home were destroyed. She has been without a home since Ivan left Cayman’s shores one year ago, and also without the financial resources to rebuild on her own since her home was not insured.
Digicel, as part of its commitment to help rebuild the Cayman Islands, worked with the CINRF to determine what could be done to alleviate some of the most pressing issues. As a result it was decided by the CINRF that Mrs. Mejia would benefit from the funds donated by Digicel.
Sadly, she is just one of many identified by the CINRF as being in dire need of assistance to rebuild their homes and their lives.
Mrs. Mejia’s property at 44 Greenwood Drive in George Town will be cleared of debris, the remaining parts of the original structure will be demolished, and an entirely new home rebuilt in its place.
Digicel Cayman CEO JD Buckley praised the CINRF for its efforts to find help for those still in need.
‘The work that the CINRF has done so far has been incredible. However, there are still many to be helped. Without the CINRF, several Caymanian families would not have anyone to turn to. Once the situation was brought to our attention and Mrs. Mejia was identified by the CINRF as someone who needed help, we were happy to assist. And we are going beyond merely a financial contribution, as many of our employees have volunteered to work on the rebuilding project as well,’ he said.
This latest pledge of support from the region’s fastest-growing telecommunications company follows Digicel’s hurricane relief efforts immediately after Ivan swept through Grand Cayman in September 2004.
Just days after Ivan’s hit, Digicel made a commitment of over US$1.5 million in assistance to the Cayman Islands, which made Digicel one of the first companies to donate on such a large scale. Over the following months this contribution was used in various ways including: US$300,000 in food and water; $200,000 in building supplies; call credit of $30 to each customer; free car chargers; 10,000 transistor radios; donations of school bags and supplies to students throughout the Cayman Islands; and many other community activities.
Since its formation in October 2004, the CINRF has orchestrated repairs to hundreds of damaged homes and continues to identify and respond to many families who continue to survive with damaged or destroyed accommodation.
‘The CINRF is focused on helping those most vulnerable – the elderly, disabled, ill, and families with young children – to restore their lives and to help them recover from the devastating affects of Ivan. We deeply appreciate the assistance we’ve received in this effort from companies like Digicel that are committed to helping Cayman rebuild. Digicel’s donation will mean the world to one family that will be able to establish a sense of normalcy once again,’ said Executive Director of CINRF Dr. Mark Laskin.
Mr. Laskin also remarked that while recovery efforts have been commendable and the resilience of the Cayman community admirable, there remains a vast amount of work to be done. Many homes within the Cayman Islands are still severely damaged, and people continue to live in unacceptable conditions.
Mrs. Mejia was happy to know that she would soon have a home again.
‘I feel like I haven’t smiled in a year, but I am smiling today,’ she said as the groundbreaking ceremony took place at her property on Greenwood Drive. She acknowledged that the past year had been very difficult for her, and she thanked the CINRF and Digicel for joining together to help her and the many other local families who need assistance to rebuild their homes.
Acknowledging that there is still much to be done, Mr. Buckley reiterated Digicel’s support of recovery efforts: ‘As the Cayman continues to rebuild, Digicel is committed to being there every step of the way. The people of the Cayman Islands are very important to us, and we will continue to assist in the recovery process so all of Cayman has a fresh start toward a bright future,’ he said.
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