BHP has partnered with United Way Trinidad and Tobago (UWTT) for medium to long term flood relief and mitigation activities in Trinidad and Tobago by donating TT$337,000 to support response programs. The partnership will focus on rebuilding activities and a public awareness program on mitigating the impact of natural hazards.
No strangers to relief efforts, BHP recently supported UWTT’s Hurricane Relief Efforts in the region due to those storms that affected our island neighbours in 2017. For the immediate needs of those who were affected by the floods of 2018 here at home, the company made initial distributions of items in Sangre Grande and Mayaro in October and were still continuing their collection drive through the avid support of staff members.
Speaking about past relief efforts, UWTT’s CEO, Dr. Jennifer Sancho said, “We learned a great deal from our regional experiences with support in Haiti after the 2012 Earthquake and in 2017 with Hurricane Relief, mainly in Dominica and also some of other Regional neighbours. Communities and families who are affected by disasters need continued support beyond the immediate crisis stage. Flooding itself has become devastating and relentless as a result of our rapid growth and the effects of climate change. Since flooding isn’t a one off event we need to prepare for the months ahead. UWTT’s strategic advantage is that we are a partner for the medium to longer term recovery, as life goes back to some sense of normalcy, particularly for those affected.”