Tuesday, February 9, 2010

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Big Business, small collection? By Inderia Saunders ~ Guardian Business Reporter ~ inderia@nasguard.com: Critics have cited too much big business and government involvement as reasons why this week's two-night national telethon for Haiti's relief efforts couldn't raise as much as $500,000 — criticisms the event's organizers call "uninformed". While retired banker Al Jarrett commended organizers of the event for their efforts and hard work, he points to the possibility of a perception of there not being enough smaller, "average Bahamian" business involvement in the organization and delivery of the telethon. Around $250,000 was raised by the end of the fund raiser, say organizers, adding that one of the overlooked purposes of the event was to unite the country in efforts for the neighboring nation. "It's not about big business, it's not about politics, it's not about small business," said Executive Director of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce Philip Simon. "It's about right now providing assistance to the tragedy that has happened in Haiti." It's assistance, however, that Jarrett argues could have been more far reaching with a different structure. He was instrumental in organizing $450,000 in relief efforts following Grand Bahama's hurricane devastation in 2004, where he said over 75 percent of the contributions came from the average Bahamian. "They only raised about 150,000 from the public and 40 percent of that was from one donor," said Jarrett. "The problem was it had the perception of being isolated to big business and the government of The Bahamas and didn't involved other persons in the business community, the smaller businesses. "It may have isolated others in society from it and came across as partisan and could have had much more support." Simon maintains, however, that there was not any government involvement in the structuring of the telethon and that all the organizers - consisting of the Chamber, Rotary Club, various media houses and event planning companies — were the appropriate businesses with the wherewithal to pull off such an event. "I think that's an uninformed statement," Simon told Guardian Business. "We didn't put a number on what the expectation was in terms of cash." He does, however, point to there being a totally different economic environment now than existed in the past and concedes how that can also play a part in donations. Indeed, the last year has seen a significant dip in charitable from corporate Bahamas and the community at large. Simon is also quick to point out that donations at the telethon also came behind prior donations by many Bahamian individuals and companies. "You must remember there were some significant immediate reactions to funding Haiti relief efforts," he added, "But in all I believe we've done very well in response to Haiti." Thursday January 28, 2010