The Mayo News

Heraty’s HaitI plea


Westport aid worker Gena Heraty cheats death but vows to help rebuild stricken country

Áine Ryan

IT IS the smiles on the innocent faces of hospitalised Haitian children that has concentrated the conviction and dedication of traumatised Mayo aid worker, Gena Heraty.
That is what she confided to her elderly mother Nora, during a brief telephone conversation at noon yesterday (Monday).
“I am not coming home. This is my life now. When I saw those smiling little faces looking up at me, I knew that is what I must concentrate on,” the longtime lay missionary with Viatores Christi said.
This is despite the fact that her young American colleague Molly – a volunteer with Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs and recent university graduate – was killed. Ironically,  Gena decided not to go to the suburb of Petionville with Molly last Monday night and instead stayed overnight at an outreach clinic she runs for special needs children in Tabarre ‘to get an early start the following morning’.  
Naturally, Liscarney native Gena Heraty is still heartbroken by last week’s catastrophic disaster that  – in a matter of seconds – claimed the lives of over 50,000 people and injured hundreds of thousands more in the tiny impoverished Caribbean country. Moreover, it has also displaced up to three million people, in a country whose dismal infrastructure is now totally crippled.
“I just need prayers and money,” Gena said yesterday. And with her large and supportive family, many of whom still live in County Mayo, a major fundraising initiative has already been mobilised.
Speaking to The Mayo News last night, her emotional sister, Phil Keane, almost broke down.
“Gena urgently needs money. And we have now found a way of transferring some money to her through the banking system. We are also planning fundraisers and call on the public to be as generous as possible,” Phil Keane said.
“There are eleven of us in the family, as well as our parents, Nora and James. We are all really feeling for her. In fact two of the sisters and a sister-in-law had bought their air tickets to travel to Haiti to see her but they won’t be going now,” she continued.
Haven Partnership volunteer, June Kerins – who helped raise €14,000 locally last year, and  travelled to Haiti in October to build houses – also spoke to The Mayo News last night.
Ms Kerins said: “Fortunately the houses we built haven’t been damaged. They are located in the north of the island and that is where many of the three million displaced people are fleeing to at the moment, seeking shelter in the jungle.”

Reaction
FINE GAEL’s spokesman on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Michael Ring has welcomed the news that Gena Heraty is safe.
“It is great news that Gena is safe and well. Gena should be complimented on the wonderful work she does in Haiti. The devastation will have a terrible effect on that country,” said Deputy Ring.
His sentiments were echoed by Deputy John O’Mahony who observed: “It’s mixed emotions. Your first thoughts were with the Irish people living and working there and the relief at hearing that they survived.”
He added that Gena was probably the first person Mayo people thought of when the news of the earthquake broke.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin Cllr Thérèse Ruane has welcomed the backing of Castlebar Town Council for her motion to reach out to the people of Haiti by making a donation of €1,000 to the Trócaire Haiti Earthquake Appeal.
“I hope that this meaningful gesture will encourage other councils, organisations, and individuals throughout the country to do likewise,” Cllr Ruane said.
Mayo County Councillors have also agreed to contribute €5,000 to the victims of the earthquake.
Various fundraisers are also being organised. A Haven Haiti gig will be held in the Wyatt Hotel on Saturday, January 30, next. Admission €10. A fundraising dinner dance will also be held in the Castlecourt Hotel in the coming weeks. Details later.

History
THE TINY country of Haiti, on the western side of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, as named by explorer Christopher Columbus, borders the Dominican Republic. It is about the same size as Ulster and, before the disaster, had a population of over nine million. Haiti has an horrific history peppered by natural disasters and repeated colonial exploitation and is often described as the poorest country in the western hemisphere.

The account for the Gena Heraty Haiti Fund at AIB, Westport is 11108008, sort code 93-71-69.
All donations wll be gratefully accepted.

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