Beenie Man pledges to help Haitians

KINGSTON, Jamaica – BEENIE MAN, who has collaborated on a hit single with Wyclef Jean in the past, has made commitment to help Haiti. 

According to yardflex.com, the Jamaican artiste, who sang ‘Love Me Now’ featuring Haitian Wyclef Jean, said that his heart goes out to his colleague and the people of Haiti. “I saw the devastation of the island on the news and I was moved. 

The hundreds of dead bodies piling up on the streets, the buildings destroyed by the earthquake, people working to rescue friends and family trapped in the rubble...and I want to make myself available to help in any way I can,” said Beenie Man. 

Haiti experienced a devastating earthquake on Tuesday (Jan. 12) with a 7.0 magnitude, which struck about 15 tkm (10 miles) south-west of Port-au-Prince and was quickly followed by two strong aftershocks of 5.9 and 5.5 magnitudes. According to BBC News Online, the leading US General in Haiti has said it is a "reasonable assumption" that up to 200,000 people may have died in last Tuesday's earthquake. 

“Lt. Gen Ken Keen said the disaster was of "epic proportions", but it was "too early to know" the full human cost,” the site reported. Reports suggest that at least 70,000 people have already had burials. 

"I hope that the Caribbean community will also organise quickly and help our brothers and sisters in every way possible, or else we will have an even bigger disaster on our hands. The schools are packed with dead people, the hospitals full of sick and dying, all communications cut off... it's a catastrophe. 

"Wyclef Jean and I share a passion for improving communities throughout the world and he has always been very hands-on when it comes to looking after his home nation; so I can't imagine what he is going through at this very difficult time," Beenie Man stated. 

He too has also spearheaded social and environmental programmes in tough inner city areas such as Craig Town, Arnett Gardens and Waterhouse in his native Jamaica, and has contributed money to the Yele charity to aid humanitarian efforts. 

In 2008, Haiti was hit by four hurricanes and Jean, a Goodwill Ambassador to Haiti, started the Yele Haiti Foundation to raise relief funds for the area following Hurricane Gustav in 2008.