Lattey: Digicel’s focus is to get people back on their feet

Sean Lattey the country manager of the company behind the funding of hundreds of stoves, fridges and mattresses being distributed to people affected by the 2013 Christmas disaster, says business is not the motivation behind their island-wide humanitarian effort.{{more}}

Lattey, speaking to SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday, during the second round of distribution of the appliances and household necessities in Spring Village, said that Digicel’s primary focus was getting Vincentians back on their feet and on the path to recovery, after the December 24 and 25 flood, that killed nine people and left hundreds of millions of dollars of destruction in its wake.

“We are not going to discuss cost; what we are actually trying to do is assist people who are really in need and that’s the first and primary object: getting to people who really need and who really want, and when we cover that we are happy.”

The villagers gathered at the Spring Village Government School where twenty 11 cubic foot MABE fridges and 25 MABE 30-inch, six burner gas stoves, provided by Courts St Vincent Limited, were handed over to the affected community members.

Villagers also received Rubis-donated gas cylinders and attachments, as well as more than sixty single and double sized mattresses.

Lattey said that seeing the appreciation of the individuals and families receiving their new items is a humbling experience, and that he was glad that his company could give back to communities that have supported his company over the ten years that Digicel has been in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

He said that the company would continue to play its part in the relief and rehabilitation efforts on a large and small scale.

“We see people who are truly happy to be doing this. It’s the second one and as you go around you see people accepting this and you realize that they are truly grateful and you appreciate it and; nothing beats that.

“That’s the genuine feeling that you get.

“We have about seven or eight areas that were impacted and we are going to touch those areas,” Lattey said.

“As an organization we are doing this on a large scale, but from time to time our team has been out to different areas, and we have actually given foodstuff and water and clothes also. And we have donated items and we will continue to do so.”

The first distribution of appliances and mattresses was made last Friday in the Buccament Bay community, with further distributions made Vermont on Thursday and South Rivers on Friday. Other communities where people lost items will also receive these items.