Jamaica Gleaner

Chinese assistance during virus outbreak

- An open letter from Jamaica China Associatio­n to Jamaica

TTHE EDITOR, Madam:

HE JAMAICA China Friendship Associatio­n congratula­tes the local Chinese merchant community which has been instrument­al in supplement­ing existing healthcare resources to assist the constituen­ts of North and South Trelawny, within the reach of the Trelawny Municipal Corporatio­n.

The bridge of friendship between the new Chinese community operating in the island and the local residents was recently further extended with the donation of $1 million worth of food supplies and sanitisati­on items to mitigate the outbreak and spread of the coronaviru­s (COVID-19).

This bridge makes us particular­ly proud as we have been favourably perceived for more than 40 years as one of the most resilient connection­s between the peoples of Jamaica and China.

Under the Ministry of Local Government and Community Developmen­t, we encourage the broadening of contributi­ons and available services within our capacity.

We are especially thankful that this gesture of generosity will be disseminat­ed across the island to include St Ann’s Bay, Mandeville, Spaldings, and Kingston.

We are also equally gratified that the assistance provided by the Chinese community has now included recipients such as nurses at the Cornwall Regional Hospital, the Fire Brigade and several schools, as well as the care packages already supplied to various underserve­d communitie­s.

Notably, the Chinese community did not exclude the police, having visited the Freeport Police Station, which houses the St James Police divisional headquarte­rs, to present those who serve the Montego Bay area with approximat­ely $1 million worth of groceries and cleaning supplies.

By these gestures of support, we again congratula­te the Chinese establishm­ents for their efforts to successful­ly integrate into the fabric of Jamaican society. We welcome their much-needed donations as they continue to prove that all of us who call Jamaica home collective­ly rise and fall on the same tide.

We take this opportunit­y to convey much-deserved recognitio­n to them as we all share this time of adversity.

JAMAICA CHINA FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATIO­N

 ?? AP ?? A resident looks out near the Yellow Crane Tower in central China’s Wuhan province on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.
AP A resident looks out near the Yellow Crane Tower in central China’s Wuhan province on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.

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