JAMAICA’S PJ Patterson, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Special Representative for Haiti, signed off on a two-storey pre-fabricated, modular office building now ready for shipment to Haitian President Rene Preval as a gift.

The building was promised to Preval on behalf of Ashtrom Jamaica Limited, for use as a temporary office structure, when Patterson led a team on a one-day mission to Haiti in April this year. The gift is sponsored by a consortium of Caribbean business organisations.

The Haitian president had been, since the devastating January earthquake, operating out of a building that previously housed a police station.

Last Wednesday, Patterson inspected the building and thanked the companies for what he described as a “magnificent gesture in response to the disaster which the Haitian people have experienced”.

He said the project had demonstrated a clear sign that individual companies and organisations were not engaged in competition but in co-operation, and had sent a signal to the rest of the regional private sector regarding what can be achieved through co-operation.

Ashtrom Jamaica Limited constructed the building in approximately six weeks, while Kingston Logistics Centre, Tank-Weld Metals and Jamaica Freight and Shipping Company are responsible for getting it to Haiti.

Ashtrom vice president, Rami Subocki said the building was designed and constructed in accordance with the International Building Code to withstand the impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes. He expressed his company’s pride in being a part of the Caricom team that is prepared to help the people of Haiti.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Chris Bicknell, group CEO of Tank-Weld Metals; Charles Johnston and Miki Cohen of Kingston Logistics. A representative of Jamaica Freight and Shipping will accompany the building to Haiti.

Each of the executives explained that they were well prepared and poised to provide similar services to Haiti as soon as they were given the necessary clearance by the government of that country.

Patterson added that there was an acute need for public shelter in Haiti at this time. He said that proposals for the erection of similar structures had already been submitted to the Haitian authorities, an indication that there were companies in Caricom which were prepared to make such facilities available in the shortest possible time.

“We are awaiting some indication from the Haitian authorities as to how to proceed, and the moment we get the signal we are ready to go,” said Patterson.