Last year’s Rally Round The West Indies T20 cricket match raised $111 591.18 for the islands devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
This was revealed during a ceremony for the handing over of funds at the 3Ws Oval, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, on Friday.
Government representatives of those islands, which include Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands and Dominica, received portions of the funds on the day which marked the official opening of the 2018 hurricane season.
This handing over was carried out in the presence of Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, and leader of Government Business Santia Bradshaw; UWI vice chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles; chairman of Sagicor Financial Corporation Limited, Dr Stephen McNamara; pro vice-chancellor and principal of the UWI Cave Hill, Eudine Barriteau; and principal of UWI, Open Campus,Dr Luz Longsworth.
During the event, which was followed by a luncheon, it was said that the proceeds would assist with the rebuilding of their medical and educational instructions.
In his address, McNamara pointed out that the islands impacted by those weather systems affected the entire Caribbean.
“Over our very long history there is very little we have not experienced. This included the brutal impact that the hurricane season brings to our markets. We have felt this at a very personal level as both our clients and colleagues have frequently been affected . . . The roots of the University of the West Indies, like Sagicor’s, are deeply embedded in each Caribbean country and any tragedy that affects one affects all,” he said.
Sagicor, which is a major partner of UWI and sponsor of the event, which was held last November, along with Flow Sports, donated $100 000 to the venture.
Sir Hilary, who is one of the longest serving directors on the Sagicor board, said they had pledged their unwavering support in times of need.
“The strategy we came up with was a cricket match to focus international attention on the disaster, to have the cricket match globally broadcast live so the world could see what we were doing and to encourage our colleagues to assist,” he said. (RG)
