Senator Thaao Dill is due to touch down in Haiti today bringing 12,000 lbs of medical supplies to the Caribbean island devastated by an earthquake three weeks ago.

Sen. Dill is representing the Government of Bermuda which organised raising $60,000 to pay for the cost of sending an American Airlines jet loaded with water, milk and medical supplies to Port-au-Prince.

The fund-raising was kicked off with a $10,000 donation by Premier Ewart Brown and his wife Wanda. Approximately six other individuals or companies chipped in to bring the total to $60,000 Senator Marc Bean said yesterday.

Sen. Bean coordinated the relief effort but is unable to make the trip himself, so Sen. Dill is going in his place.

"It is a real honour to be going," Sen. Dill said. "Really the purpose is to deliver the good and ensure they get to the organisations that they are meant for."

Sen. Dill added that he wished there was more he could do for the people of Haiti.

American Airlines has organised the 12,000 lbs of medical equipment which will be distributed to three Non Government Organisations: Medisend International, Yele Haiti and Life and Hope Haiti.

The list includes thousands of surgical sponges, masks and gloves as well as IV needles, syringes, bandages and gauze. The flight will also be bringing 2,000 lbs of fresh drinking water. The goods will be distributed by the NGOs as needed.

The Bermuda team, which includes four other individuals as well as Sen. Dill, will be at the Port-au-Prince airport, which is currently being run by the US military, for approximately two hours before returning to Bermuda.

Though when they do return they will have an extra passenger. Local teacher Leyde St. Leger, who works at Sandys Secondary Middle School, has been in Haiti for more than a week helping with the relief effort. He will be returning to the Island on the American Airlines plane.

Mr. St. Leger was born in America to Haitian parents and lost his aunt and cousin in last month's earthquake.