The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama Minister Dr Michael Darville announced yesterday that a working committee has been officially formed to organise and co-ordinate hurricane relief efforts on Grand Bahama for the central and southern Bahamas that were affected by Hurricane Joaquin.

The committee is comprised of a team of government and non-government officials and four drop-off stations have been activated to receive donations on the island - the Urban Renewal Centre in Eight Mile Rock at the Harbour West Plaza; the Pineridge Urban Renewal Centre on Weddell Avenue; the centre at Seahorse Village on Pearl Way; and NEMA Warehouse, on the former Catholic High School grounds.

Dr Darville said the centres will begin to receive relief supplies such as personal hygiene kits, cleaning products, food, clothing articles, and blankets today.

“It was imperative for me to organise this team so that we can begin to streamline efforts to ensure they are not duplicated. By doing so, as a unified body, we will be able to reach a wider cross section of the Grand Bahama community and also act as a legitimate source for distribution,” he said.

Dr Darville said companies and persons overseas wishing to donate items can do so through the Embassies and Consulate Offices throughout the US and Canada which will inform NEMA so that the items are exempt from VAT and other necessary taxes.

He indicated that while there are many private organisations involved in leading the charge to get relief to affected individuals, the committee has been structured as directed by NEMA on the logistics of how relief efforts should work on Grand Bahama.

“Those organisations that are presently out there leading the charge to collect items, they can work along with us. We are extending an invitation to them to join with us because we have the capacity and the mandate through NEMA, through the co-ordination of the RBDF and logistics of moving the goods from Grand Bahama to the affected areas,” Dr Darville said.

He commended organisations such as the Long Island Association and others that are organising relief efforts as well, but said that the committee is able to ensure that the transshipment of goods get to where they are needed in time.

“What we do not want is everyone sending water to San Salvador if there is not a need for water there when there might be a deficiency of water at Crooked Island or Acklins; we have the ability to determine where the needs are based on donations that have been given. So rather than one island loaded with water and another without water, we are co-ordinated through the office in Nassau and are able to determine what goods are most suitable for whatever island,” he said.

Dr Darville is appealing to residents wishing to donate items not to give things that are of no value. “We are looking for something worthwhile and items that people will be willing to receive. We have been in this situation before in Grand Bahama, and the rest of the Commonwealth assisted us with good items,” he said.

The committee, spearheaded by the Ministry in conjunction with NEMA, consists of representatives from the Department of Urban Renewal and Social Services, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Grand Bahama Christian Council, registered non-profit organisations, including the Red Cross, Salvation Army and 700 partners.