IN A show of support to the people of the Cayman Islands, who are trying to rebuild after the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Ivan on September 12, the Gleaner Company has undertaken to publish a special newspaper edition to be distributed in the British territory.Much of the communication network in the Cayman Islands was affected by the hurricane. Hence, the Gleaner Cayman Special will serve to carry information throughout the ravaged island chain on a weekly basis, for a period of one month, or until the press in Cayman is back in full operation.
Jenni Campbell, managing editor at The Gleaner, said this initiative is aimed at facilitating the free flow of information in Cayman and thereby help in the recovery process.
"As a newspaper company in business for 170 years, we believe that if there is a need in the Caribbean for the provision of critical information. If we can, then we should help," she said.
The first copies of the special edition Gleaner have already been published and were distributed free of cost to Caymanians on October 1. Future issues will attract a cover price of 50 cents per copy. From this, 20 cents from each copy sold will be donated to the Cayman Islands relief effort through the local Red Cross.
Karin Cooper, corporate affairs manager at The Gleaner, said the company is not concerned about the profitability of the venture, as the need in Cayman at this time is of greater importance. "We need to get information to the people in Cayman who need it the most. That is what this is really about," she said.
Mrs. Cooper added that at the end of the third week, the company will do an assessment of how well the paper was received and if there is a continued need, the company will extend the number of weeks it will provide the paper to the people of Cayman.
