By Nalini Sudama
SEWATT will dispatch its first shipment of aid to Jamaica next week, following the nationwide disaster caused by Hurricane Melissa.
In an interview with AZP News on Wednesday, President of SewaTT Revan Teelucksingh said that the organisation had been planning relief aid months before the hurricane occurred.
The organisation developed a two-phase plan to ensure that aid reaches families swiftly and safely, he said.
“Our first set of planning started at the beginning of the hurricane season, where we planned for any event, any eventuality, of a hurricane in Trinidad or the region,” said Teelucksingh.
He said, “We had already put together our plans of what the needs were based on our experience from other hurricanes, and particularly helping Grenada last year.
This also included a buffer fund, enabling the group to purchase supplies immediately rather than waiting for donations.
After the planning phase, contacts were made with affiliations in Jamaica.
“We would have contacted the NCIC Jamaica, which is an affiliate of NCIC in Trinidad and Tobago,” said Teelucksingh.
He said, “We were reaching out to all the parties that we know, particularly Trinidadian companies that have a presence on the ground in Jamaica, such that we could get information and support.”
SewaTT also contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, preparing all necessary communications and documentation for the situation.
According to Teelucksingh, the first shipment will include specialised solar lamps and signature food buckets.
These were developed to avoid what he called a “logistical nightmare,” ensuring that aids are distributed without being a burden to Jamaican authorities.
The lamps, created with SEWA TT’s input, include detachable solar panels, long extension cords, and compact battery packs that can charge cell phones.
Teelucksingh said that these solar lamps were carefully designed to allow a small panel to be placed on the roof while the lamp remains secure inside the house.
The pest-resistant food buckets will contain long-lasting items that can prepare 36 to 40 meals and allow for easy transportation at the port.
“We chose a very specific method, a collection that would give people value for money,” he said, emphasising that dry items are more suitable than canned items.
These buckets will be assembled by volunteers at the Divali Nagar site on Sunday.
The organisation plans to send a group of volunteers to Jamaica, however, such deployment will happen once accommodations are secured.
Teelucksingh said, “When we go across there, we must be self-sufficient. We have our accommodations arranged with people who can help us. They’re just trying to fix their own homes. Once their own homes are fixed, they can accommodate us.”
Partnerships with supermarkets across the country will also allow the public to contribute directly at checkouts.
“You could go to the supermarket and tell the cashier that you want to make a contribution to the Jamaican relief, and the cashier will pull up the item. Your contribution will be recorded, and it prints on your bill, so it is fully accountable,” said Teelucksingh.
“Your $100 becomes $200 when you work through Sewa TT,” he said, noting that the organisation receives discounts on many of the relevant items.
More than $100,000 in funds has been collected but more support is necessary to support the organization’s reserve, with the first shipment valued at approximately $500,000, according to Teelucksingh.
Sewa TT can be contacted through their social media pages or via phone or WhatsApp at 333-SEWA.
