Digicel boss O’Brien named as Haiti goodwill ambassador

DIGICEL boss Denis O’Brien has been named as a goodwill ambassador for the earthquake-hit city of Port-au-Prince in Haiti.

The billionaire media mogul was honoured for his dedication to helping to rebuild the city after it was devastated by the tremor more than five weeks ago.

Mr O’Brien said he promised to do everything in his power to ensure the plight of the people in Haiti is kept at the front of people’s minds across the globe.

“Over the last few weeks, we have seen a massive worldwide outpouring of sympathy and support, but much more is needed,” said the Digicel owner and chairman as he accepted the role. “The challenge is to achieve significant and sustained foreign investment and to ensure that this money is channelled into the right projects and succeeds in making a tangible positive long-term difference.

“With the right focus and planning, together, we can help Haiti to rise again.”

Mobile phone operator Digicel was launched in Haiti in 2006 and is the single largest investor in the country, injecting more than €300 million into the Caribbean nation.

The telecommunications firm, which has over two million customers in the country, has donated €3.7m to aid agencies since the magnitude-7.0 earthquake hit Port-au-Prince on January 12.

A further €590,000 has been raised by Digicel customers across the Caribbean and Central America through a “text and voice” donation line. The mayor of Port-au-Prince, Jean Yves Jason, and the deputy mayor, Nadeje Augustin, paid tribute to the businessman for his efforts to attract much-needed aid relief to the stricken country. The entrepreneur has also encouraged businesses to consider Haiti as an ideal place for foreign direct investment.

The mayor said: “Even prior to Digicel’s launch in Haiti in 2006, Denis O’Brien has been a huge supporter of our country and has worked tirelessly to ensure a better standard of living for our people through the provision of housing, educational facilities and programmes.

“He is very much the right person to help us to rebuild and to look to the future in a positive way. We are delighted that he has accepted this role and look forward to working together closely for the long-term benefit of the Haitian people.”

Elsewhere, the Irish Government pledged a further €800,000 to three aid agencies working in Haiti.

The funding, to Concern, World Vision and Haven, will support child protection measures and the provision of clean water and sanitation.

Peter Power, overseas development minister, said taxpayers – through Irish Aid – have already donated more than €3m and 130 tonnes of essential humanitarian supplies to the stricken country.

“Thousands of Haitian children have been orphaned or separated from their families and safeguarding their welfare must remain a top priority,” said Mr Power.

“The funding that I am announcing today will support the identification and registration of vulnerable children and fund measures to help them deal with the enormous trauma they have suffered.

“The rainy season is now imminent and some 1.2 million people are living in temporary shelters. They are in dire need of safe drinking water and access to sanitation and hygiene facilities.”

Concern will provide safe drinking water, latrines and hygiene equipment to 50,000 vulnerable Haitians living in two slums in Port-au-Prince while World Vision will support the identification, the registration and the protection of 3,500 vulnerable children in the capital.

Haven will also provide the region with temporary latrines.