Prime Minister George Papandreou on Thursday voiced support for and solidarity with the people of Haiti following a devastating earthquake that struck "one of the poorest countries of the planet".
Haiti gained its independence on the first day of 1804. It was the first independent nation in Latin America, the first post-colonial independent black-led nation in the world, and the only nation whose independence was gained as part of a successful slave rebellion. Papandreou also recalled that Haiti had been the first country, in 1822, to acknowledge the Greek Revolution (against Ottoman rule) and the first country that recognised the Greek state. Papandreou added that the latest terrible developments in Haiti "come to remind us that we do not live alone in this world"
Later, speaking at the start of a crucial Inner Cabinet meeting on the economy, Papandreou called on his ministers to do everything possible, each in his own area of authority, for immediate Greek assistance to Haiti.
The mayor of Skopelos immediately sent money for aid to Haiti and the 'Association of the Concerned Active Citizens of Skopelos' organised the collection and recycling of clothes. The response was immediate and very good. On March 16th the aid was loaded onto the ferry for distribution through an organisation in Athens.