The Tribune

GRAND BAHAMA

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Grand Bahama Port Authority made a $50,000 donation yesterday for hurricane relief efforts to various local organisations on Grand Bahama.

Sarah St George, vice chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, said the company has tremendous empathy for the residents of the central and southern Bahamas, which were devastated by Hurricane Joaquin.

The money was shared between five organisations: the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) received $20,000; the Bahamas Red Cross and the Salvation Army received $10,000 each; and the Rotary Clubs International and Odyssey Jet Aviation each received $5,000.

Ms St George said that each of the organisations has demonstrated humanity, strength and kindness by rebuilding the physical, social, and spiritual fabric of communities that are often pulled apart during disasters. She noted that Grand Bahama has experienced first hand the devastation following hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004.

“The physical and emotional stress endured by those affected is quite difficult and I personally witnessed as much when my father watched his life’s work, which spanned more than 40 years, blown away in a matter of hours and that was most devastating,” she said.

Ms St George thanked the various organisations for what they are doing and said that road to recovery will require more private sector partnerships and the combined efforts all along with donation of funds, food, clothing, building materials as well as expertise and time of skilled individuals to speed up the process of rebuilding.

Captain Roger Compton, of the Salvation Army, was grateful to the GBPA and the entire Grand Bahama community for their donations. “I thank the GBPA for its unwavering generosity and issue an appeal to skilled labourers who would like to travel to the Family Islands and assist in the reconstruction process,” he said.

Billie Jane Ferguson, Rotary assistant district governor, Christine Fields-Van der Linde of Rotary Club of Lucaya, and Stephanie Barr of the Bahamas Red Cross, thanked the GBPA for its donation at the cheque presentation at the GBPA boardroom. Company executives, including president Ian Rolle, vice president Henry St George and Financial Controller Deanne Seymour were also present.

BORCO

THE Bahamas Oil Refining Company donated $32,210 to the National Emergency Management Agency on Thursday afternoon to assist those persons in the southern and central Bahamas affected by Hurricane Joaquin. Accepting the donation was the administrator for Freeport, Charles King.

Greg Laroda, terminal operations manager for BORCO explained that employees of the company made a decision to assist those persons affected by the storm, and management agreed to match whatever was donated by the workers.

Mr King assured the company that the funds would be directed to assist the hurricane victims and thanked the company on behalf of the government and NEMA.

BAKER'S BAY

Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club on Great Guana Cay, Abaco, has donated $50,000 to the National Emergency Management Agency towards the Hurricane Joaquin relief effort. Dr Livingston Marshall, senior vice-president, Baker’s Bay, presewnted the cheque to Prime Minister Perry Christie and NEMA Director Captain Stephen Russell on Wednesday. Photo: Peter Ramsay/BIS

SANDALS

THE Sandals Foundation, the non-profit arm of Sandals Resorts International, has sounded the call for support in its efforts to help citizens of the Bahamas who have been affected by the destruction caused by Hurricane Joaquin.

The campaign will include both cash and in kind donations to the recovery team. Cash donations are being managed through the foundation’s online portal at sandalsfoundation.org.

Hurricane Joaquin made landfall in the Bahamas on October 1 and 2, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

President of the Sandals Foundation and CEO of SRI Adam Stewart said: “Hurricane Joaquin has affected the people of the Bahamas in a way that most of us simply cannot imagine.

“The Bahamas is close to our hearts, both on a personal and professional level, and we must now rally round and give them all the help they need to get them back on their feet as quickly as possible.”

To lend support to this cause, please visit sandalsfoundation.org.

. . . and a helping hand from Haiti Rotary Clubs

FIVE years after a phenomenal response from The Bahamas to the ravages of the Haitian earthquake, Haiti is sending funds to assist the Bahama islands and people in need from the devastation of Hurricane Joaquin.

Rotary District Governor Felix Stubbs and his wife, Carla, have been visiting the nations comprising Rotary District 7020 and there has been an outpouring of support. “As we travelled around Haiti this last visit, the clubs expressed care and concern for the people of The Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Joaquin. They have generously made several monetary donations,” Mrs Card-Stubbs said.

Demonstrating their commitment, even clubs that were not visited by the District Governor on this trip sent their envoy to the airport to meet him before he departed to hand over their contributions.

“With each presentation, the Rotarians in Haiti have made it clear that they wish to help the people of The Bahamas,” a statement from Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas read. “They have not forgotten Rotary District 7020’s response, largely co-ordinated by the Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas, after the January 12, 2010 earthquake.

“At that time of despair, within 24 hours, Rotarians were on the ground in Haiti with supplies and volunteers. That effort continued, long after many had left, as Rotarians provided medical, relocation and rebuilding assistance. So it is with deep gratitude and much sacrifice that the Rotary Clubs of Haiti come to the assistance of the people of The Bahamas in our hour of need.”