In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ike, I was surprised to learn that no relief agency in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) had the facility to accept online donations. This is why I published a commentary asking readers to donate funds to the British Red Cross for TCI victims.
But after a number of people expressed misgivings about donating via the Red Cross, I invited them to do so via my website, The iPINIONS Journal (TIJ).
Specifically, I assured donors that I would collect and transfer 100 percent of their donations to Mrs Lillian Misick, Director of the TCI Small Business Centre, for her to purchase food and other supplies according to her needs assessment.
However, I was so impressed by the alacrity with which a number of local organizations launched online fundraising drives that I soon felt obliged to publish the following announcement:
I have decided to discontinue fundraising on this website after only 72 hours because a veritable cottage industry has developed amongst local groups asking for money on behalf of our victims, and I see no point in duplicating (or detracting from) their efforts. Especially since the government has even appointed a fundraising czar to ‘coordinate’ it all….
[Report on donations for TCI victims of Hurricane Ike, TIJ, September 20, 2008]
That said, I am happy to publish this final report on my modest fundraising efforts:
First and foremost, on behalf of the people of the TCI, I would like to reiterate my thanks to all who donated to this worthy cause.
After spending some of the funds on food and water for the victims, Mrs Misick determined that their needs in this respect were being adequately met by the charitable efforts of the owner of a local supermarket.
Therefore, she informed me that it would be far more prudent to use the balance to replenish educational supplies that were destroyed by the hurricane. Accordingly, she purchased almost $15,000.00 worth of computers, printers and related items for the benefit of students at the community college, high school and two primary schools on the affected island of Grand Turk.
Regrettably, the slow repair of the infrastructure on this island delayed the presentation of these donated items until just days ago. But instead of having me describe the occasion, I suspect you will derive far greater appreciation from reading the address Mrs Misick gave at the first of four special Assemblies that were arranged for this purpose:
Good morning:
Greetings to all educators and teachers-in-training here in the teacher education department of TCI Community College.
As some of you may know, I am a former educator. This is why I am so pleased to be here today to donate the replacement equipment needed for technology-in-education courses in this department.
Given how the digital revolution is continuing to transform our lives – making the ability to use computers today every bit as important as the ability to read and write was just decades ago – I’m sure we all appreciate how important it is for teachers to be masters of the uses and applications of computer technology in our classrooms.
Mrs Misick (far right) with teachers at the Eliza Simons Primary School: (from left) Computer teacher S. Kirkland, Reading teacher N. Taylor, and Principal Mrs Norma Seymour
That said, I am mindful of the irony of stressing the importance of the internal infrastructure in this respect when our external infrastructure – namely the cable lines that would enable you to make full use of this equipment – remains in such a woeful state of disrepair.
Nevertheless, I am hopeful that these repairs will be completed soon so that not only you in this department but also students in their homes will be fully re-connected to the world once again.
With that, I would like to thank president Julia Williams for her dedication and visionary leadership.
But I am sure all of you would want to join me in thanking the person responsible for this donation of the equipment needed to fully refurbish your computer lab. Mr Anthony Livingston Hall is a TCIslander who lives and works as a lawyer in Washington DC.
Just hours after Hurricane Ike devastated our Island, Mr Hall offered personal funds to make food and water available at my bakery for anyone who needed it. His initiative soon led to my working with IGA to set up a more sustainable food distribution network.
Students preparing for Assembly featuring Mrs Misick at the Eliza Simons Primary School
But as soon as I expressed my concerns about the long-term educational needs of our community, Mr Hall launched a fundraising drive that resulted in my having enough money to purchase supplies not only for your computer lab but also for our local high school and two primary schools. In fact, I’m sure you will all be happy to know that a considerable amount of those funds were expressly allocated to help refurbish our primary schools.
Therefore, on behalf of all administrators, teachers, parents and students in Grand Turk, I would like to thank Mr Hall for contributing in such a pivotal way to our post-hurricane recovery.
Good day and God bless you.
Related commentaries:
Donations…
*This commentary was also published today at Caribbean Net News and The TCI Journal
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shona says
A commendable effort indeed by Mr Hall. It is good to know that progress is being made albeit that it has been slower on the infrastructure side.