Assistant secretary general of the Organisation of American States (OAS) Albert Ramdin has said that "provisional personnel" from each OAS member-state, including T&T were being considered among its peacekeeping forces for Haiti. "We will be very much involved in the process of keeping the peace and law and order in the streets (of Haiti)," Ramdin said. "They will need some security to make sure that these products, these goods, reach the people who really need it." Ramdin was responding to questions about order in Haiti after thousands of people were killed in the during the 7.3-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday.
He spoke on the Trinidad Publishing Company Ltd (TPCL) "Help Haiti Now" television feature, which was televised on CNC3 on Thursday night. He said one of the main challenges facing relief efforts in Haiti was the co-ordination among the global aid. "At this point in time, this is one of the most critical issues because the outpouring of support to Haiti in terms of teamwork, in terms of goods, and all the kinds of needs for assistance is enormous worldwide," he said.
Ramdin, who chaired the OAS Group of Friends of Haiti, engaged in discussions with OAS members about the co-ordination of rescue efforts. He said Haiti needed search teams to rescue trapped earthquake survivors from the rubble, along with medical supplies and other medical assistance. He said food, water and blankets were among the other needed items. Ramdin said the response from OAS members was encouraging, since concrete steps were taken to support the people of Haiti. "We have, within the OAS, taken the lead on organising and co-ordinating that is within the Inter-American system," he said.