Channel 5 Andy Palacio tribute concert to benefit Haiti
The human tragedy continues to grow in the island of Haiti as rescue workers work around the clock to save persons trapped under the rubble caused by Tuesday’s earthquake. Relief efforts are underway but the extent of human loss and destruction is still unknown. The tragedy has touched everyone in what is being considered as one of the world’s worst disasters. Numerous countries and organizations are offering assistance to Haiti. On the home front, Channel Five is joining the relief efforts and will be holding a one of a kind concert. News Five’s Jose Sanchez has an update on the local efforts.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
Since Tuesday’s devastating earthquake on Haiti, over forty thousand bodies have been buried and authorities believe there is another hundred thousand beneath the rubble. The tragedy has ripped families permanently apart but has pulled the world even closer. China has pledged a million dollars, the U.S. government has announced one hundred million in aid and every country including Belize are compelled to take action. Haitians living across the planet are still in the dark as to the whereabouts of their loved ones.
Eltho Eliassaint, Unable to Contact Family in Haiti (January 13, 2010)
“I got my mom, my dad, my sisters and my wife and my kid.”
Jose Sanchez
“Have you been able to reach them on the phone?”
Etho Eliassaint
“I tries on the phone yesterday but I couldn’t get through.”
Jose Sanchez
“What have you heard about the damage that Haiti has suffered?”
Etho Eliassaint
“I hear that it happened in the capital city but my Belizeans are not close to the capital city but I think my family is affected too.”
Jose Sanchez
“Do you know if anyone from your community has tried to contact the Belizean government to see if they can aid at least in communication?”
Etho Eliassaint
“I don’t have any information about that. But I hope the Belizean government can help us communicate with our family.”
Jean Smith Choune, Unable to Contact Family in Haiti
“I got my wife and two pickni. When yesterday I hear the news, I got lot ah family weh done get lot ah problem. Exactly I can’t get communication on the phone and I don’t know if my pickni dead. But I try get the answer. I hear ten million people right now dead. And den I got lot ah government House, the white house, the Church catholic; everything bruk down.”
The Belize Red Cross has been leading the charge in the Jewel to raise funds for Haiti’s recovery.
Raphael Martinez, Belize Red Cross
“Presently we are trying to raise at least one hundred thousand dollars and I must say kudos to Smart who has taken the initiative of donating ten thousand dollars. That was very great on the behalf of Smart. I hope that quite a few Belizean organizations will do the same.”
Channel Five has also committed its resources to the Belize Red Cross by initiating its own fundraiser, a tribute concert to Andy Palacio, who was a UNESCO Artist for Peace.
William Neal, Host, Tribute to Andy Palacio Concert
“This would tie in with the legacy of Andy Palacio. Very often you would have artists who are considered citizens of the world and Andy is definitely considered a citizen of the world. This is the best way for you give back. Unfortunately, we can’t all go to Haiti and assist in any way so this is Channel Five’s small way of contributing to the relief efforts in Haiti. We’ve decided to have it at night and changed it from just being a tribute concert to Andy Palacio to actually helping Haiti and the idea is that people will pay a minimal fee to enter and those monies will be handed over to the Red Cross to help the victims of the earthquake. We have a really impressive list of artists lined up. We have Umalali, we have the Garifuna Collective with Lloyd Augustine and Paul Nabor, Supa G and the Danger Zone band. And the idea is really to come and celebrate the life of Andy and the same time realize is something you can do through the arts to help our Caribbean sister country at a very difficult time.”
Raphael Martinez
“I’m so happy that Channel Five has jumped on board the bandwagon and Channel Five is actually doing something with my favorite people as well; the legend himself all the way from Punta Gorda, Paul Nabor. We can’t forget the Garifuna collective. I think it will be quite a blast and of course the proceeds from this great event will be in aid of our brothers and sisters in Haiti and this will be donated through the Red Cross to be forwarded to the people in need.”
Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
Earlier today B.E.L. announced it is donating twenty thousand dollars to the Caribbean Electric Utility Service Corporation Haiti Recovery Fund.
