Jamaica among countries to help hurricane-hit Bahamas
Published:Thursday | September 5, 2019 | 12:00 AM
Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Jamaica will be rallying to help The Bahamas in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.
At a press conference at Jamaica House a short while ago, Holness said an advance team left this morning for the hurricane-ravaged country and the full mission will arrive this evening.
The team comprises "experienced" disaster response officials including members of the Jamaica Defence Force who were a part of the group who went to Dominica to help after Hurricane Irma flattened parts of that country last year.
The Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley and St Lucia's Prime Minister Allen Chastanet are now in The Bahamas to help organise support on behalf of the Caribbean Community.
The latest figures from The Bahamas have placed the death toll at 20.
However, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands says it is likely that it could be "significantly" higher as search and rescue operations continue.
Last night, Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said Hurricane Dorian has left a “generation of devastation” across Abaco and Grand Bahama.
“Much of Grand Bahama was previously under water but Grand Bahama is now cleared. Some homes, businesses and other buildings and infrastructure were badly damaged and there are a significant number of people in shelters,” Minnis said.
In the Freeport area, he said, much of the water has now receded, however, there has not been much damage to infrastructure.
Minnis also said his brother, Cecil Bosfield, passed away on Monday.
It is uncertain whether he died as a result of Hurricane Dorian.
In the meantime, the Prime Minister said one of the ways people can show their support and solidarity with The Bahamas is to visit New Providence, Paradise Island and other islands that were spared by the hurricane.
“We will need to keep our booming tourist industry vibrant. We must keep our economy strong and resilient in order to bring help in the race and recovery of those in need,” Minnis said.
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