Pond Island:---- TelEm Group on Tuesday teamed up with members of the Dominica Disaster Relief Committee (SXM) to give much-needed telecommunication assistance in the continuing Dominica Relief effort.
Company personnel last week donated food, clothes and other items to assist thousands in Dominica still affected by the passing of Tropical Storm Erika, which claimed the lives of more than 30 persons with dozens mores still missing.
This week the company itself pitched into the relief effort by announcing greatly reduced rates to Dominica so that persons living in St. Maarten can keep in constant touch with family and friends back home.
From today (Wednesday) anyone on St. Maarten can place international calls to Dominica at the local tariff rate (TelCell to TelCell) of $0.25 cents.
“We have decided to maintain this low tariff rate for the entire month of September to assist many people who have been calling the island and running up their personal bills since the recent disaster,” said Manager, Marketing & Sales Mr. Emile van der Weerd.
He said the company is making its mobile network available to Dominicans on St. Maarten and the people of Dominica at these reduced rates because there is still a great need to keep communication channels open to give assurance to those on St. Maarten and also to allow those in Dominica to keep their loved ones up to date with their own deteriorating or improving conditions,” continued Mr. van der Weerd.
He made the announcement Tuesday, with the assistance of the Dominica Disaster Relief Committee, which is made up of a group of concerned Dominicans that has signed documentation from the Office of the Prime Minister in Dominica to undertake relief work “and receive donations of any kind on behalf of the Government and people of the Commonwealth of Dominica.”
“On top of the reduced rates to Dominica, we have also provided used of five mobile phone packages with donated call credits and provided mobile access to three more board members via their own mobiles, for the exclusive use of committee members during the month of September,” continued Mr. van der Weerd.
He said the officials will be able to make free calls to Dominica to coordinate with efforts there and also to ensure that their distribution of items being sent from St. Maarten are being handled fairly.
According to relief committee leader Maria Joseph, her group members have each gone to some unexpectedly high expense to communicate with each other and also to keep in touch with various persons in Dominica from day one after the storm.
“This initiative from TelEm Group is a blessing for us right now and will enable us to continue to work in the relief effort,” said Ms. Joseph.
She urged Dominicans especially to make use of the TelEm Group and TelCell offer to call home at the reduced rates since calling for them will now be more affordable.
“Any little helps right now and on behalf of Dominicans on St. Maarten, we wish to thank the management of TelEm for their help,” continued the disaster relief committee member.
Also present at Tuesday’s announcement of reduces rates to Dominica were fellow committee members, Mr. Clayton Felix and Ms. Julietta Charles, along with TelEm Group employee Shamarra Jean Pierre, who kicked of a successful Dominica Relief Drive amongst company colleagues last week.
