AIRPORT – In the wake of the recent earthquake that hit Haiti, PrincessJulianaInternationalAirport has organized a necessity drive in collaboration with the Red Cross St. Maarten Chapter. As part of this initiative, PJIAE is calling on the general public of St. Maarten/St. Martin to donate bottled water, clothing andcanned goods, to the Red Cross headquarters in Simpson Bay, starting today.
All donated items will then be packaged at the Red Cross St. Maarten Chapter where they will be sent directly to Haiti via a chartered aircraft. “PJIAE has agreed to cover the cost of an aircraft to fly the immediate required relief goods to Haiti,” PJIAE president drs. Eugene Holiday stated.
The jet service sponsored by PJIAE is a special charter flight, which barring unforeseen circumstances, is scheduled to arrive in Haiti on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010. The public of St. Maarten/St. Martin is urged to deliver all donations to Red Cross headquarters by 12 p.m. on Tuesday, January 19, 2010.
The Red Cross is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week and will assume the same hours this weekend to accept donations for the necessity drive. The St. Maarten Medical Center as well as Dutch/French pharmacies are encouraged to donate medical supplies. Dutch and French hotels are also encouraged to donate blankets, towels and linens as these are all considered top-priority items needed in Haiti, according to Antoinette van den Brink of the Red Cross St. Maarten Chapter. PJIAE is also encouraging Dutch/French supermarkets to join in and donate non-perishable food items as part of the initiative as well.
“PJIAE sympathizes with the local Haitian community and all those affected by this terrible tragedy. We look forward to the public’s support in our effort to assist those affected by the earthquake,” drs. Holiday said.
PrincessJulianaInternationalAirport operating company N.V.