The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Health and Wellness has received forensic DNA reports commissioned to confirm the identities of passengers killed in the July 10 plane crash in North Andros.

In a statement, the ministry said the reports contain scientific analysis allowing the identities of those involved in the crash to be confirmed.

“The forensic documents are now under the jurisdiction of the Chief Forensic Pathologist at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) and are being reviewed,” the statement read.

“After the review process, the Chief Forensic Pathologist will liaise with the Coroner on next steps to facilitate the release and transfer of the deceased to the designated funeral homes for final arrangements.”

In July, some grieving families of victims killed in the Independence Day plane crash were told they could wait up to eight weeks for DNA results before they could identify and bury their loved ones.

Relatives submitted DNA samples after several victims reportedly could not be identified because their bodies were severely burned in the July 10 crash near San Andros Airport.

Police told some families the samples would be sent to a laboratory in the United States and that efforts would be made to expedite the process.

By late August, more than six weeks after the crash, grieving relatives were still waiting to bury some of their loved ones and said they had been left with little information about the DNA testing or when the remains would be released.

The families of Macaro Rolle and Giovanni “Geo” McKenzie have been able to bury their loved ones. Their bodies were among the few that remained intact following the crash.