The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN student attending university in the United States is spearheading a drive to collect relief supplies to assist the Family Islands devastated by Hurricane Joaquin.

Antonique Ingraham, a doctoral student at the University of Toledo (UT) in Ohio, told The Tribune yesterday that she and school officials have partnered to co-ordinate an on-campus Bahamas hurricane relief/drug prevention tailgate in the wake of the category four storm, which will be held on Saturday.

The donations, she said, will be forwarded to Bahamian relief organisation HeadKnowles, who will then have the items distributed on her behalf. Items for donations include (but are not limited to) feminine hygiene products, disposable baby diapers, baby wipes, as well as baby ointment.

In exchange for donations, donors will receive a free t-shirt, Ms Ingraham, who is from Nassau, said.

Hurricane Joaquin hammered the central and southern Bahamas two weeks ago after it strengthened into a category four storm. The slow moving storm left devastation in Long Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, San Salvador and Rum Cay in particular, destroying homes and buildings with strong winds and heavy flooding.

Although safe from the storm’s wrath in Ohio, Ms Ingraham said it “touched (her) heart” to see the devastation left behind, prompting her to take action and organise a relief effort for her beloved homeland.

“My heart bled for my people when I saw the pictures of the devastation back home,” she told The Tribune yesterday. “I couldn’t sleep at one point because I was so concerned as to how those people were going to make it. I just prayed a lot for those people. It impacted me a lot emotionally and that pretty much motivated me to try to put together this event.”

According to Ms Ingraham, UT’s University Counselling Centre, International Students Association, and Centre for International Studies and Programming have all sponsored the initiative.

She also credited Dr Kaye Patten-Wallace, UT’s vice-president for student affairs, for being instrumental in appealing to the school’s directors and department heads for assistance.

Her efforts thus far have reaped significant results, as she claimed to have already collected a “room full” of donations, largely from fellow students as well as “faculty members and staff members who work in the division of student affairs.”

“This was in the face of great tragedy, so all of us have to come together to do something,” Ms Ingraham said, adding: “I don’t have to be home in Nassau to help my people.”

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Perry Christie said the government’s initial assessment of the Family Islands hit hardest by Hurricane Joaquin has pegged the price tag of damage at over $60m.

This figure, he said, is expected to increase as the Ministry of Finance continues to receive additional assessments.

Mr Christie said the amount needed to cover the cost of this recovery and repair phase is likely to be funded through borrowing from either the Caribbean Development Bank, financing from the People’s Republic of China or by other traditional sourcing.