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A huge EC$90,000 (approx. £21,567) has been raised for the Haiti appeal after a fundraising drive on Montserrat. With a population of around 4,700, this is equivalent to each resident donating over £4.50 for their Caribbean neighbours.
The island of Montserrat has benefited hugely from the overseas aid it has received since its volcanic crisis began in 1995, making islanders more willing to dig deep and give generously to Haiti which is dealing with a disaster on a much bigger scale.
On Saturday January 30th 2010, a family day and concert was organised to help raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Residents across Montserrat donated their time, prizes, facilities and singing voices to make the day happen.
The family day and concert were held at the Montserrat Cultural Centre, a fitting venue for the occasion since it was itself built as a result of fundraising activity for Montserrat. Funding came partially from the Music for Montserrat concert staged by Beatles producer Sir George Martin at the Royal Albert Hall in 1997, during the peak of Montserrat’s volcanic crisis.
Singers and performers from across the island including the legendary Arrow took part in a special concert on Saturday evening. Arrow sang his famous song Hot, Hot, Hot with the help of the island’s governor and chief minister on backing vocals.
The community raised over EC$20,000 (approx £4,793) at Saturday’s concert, with the final figure still to be confirmed.
In total the people from Montserrat have raised over EC$90,000 (approx. £21,567) for the Haiti appeal. This includes EC$70,000 which had already been raised during a Radiothon on January 15th 2010.
Jeevan Robinson, who hosted the Radiothon, said he was amazed at the generosity shown and that it made him “proud to be Montserratian”.