Coalition Govt pledges $41.6M to the Bahamas

─ “The donation is showing love in action” – Min. of State

DPI, Guyana, Sunday, September 15, 2019

The Government of Guyana (GoG) will be donating $41.6M ($200,000US) to the Bahamas, to aid in the country’s current disaster tragedy.

This declaration was made on Sunday evening, by the Minister of State, Hon. Dawn Hastings-Williams, during the ‘Rise Bahamas’ telethon programme, aired on the National Communications Network (NCN).

The televised programme was a joint initiative between the Rotary Clubs of Guyana, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and NCN; aimed at soliciting donations – whether monitory and/or any other form of contribution, to assist Bahamians, who are currently fighting for survival after experiencing the massive hurricane Dorian on September 1.

Minister Hastings-Williams said that the Coalition Government is saddened by the massive chaos ‘Dorian’ has caused upon the country, while assuring that Guyana’s government will continue to render support to bring relief speedily to the current situation.

“We are very concerned not only for our Guyanese brothers and sisters, but all who are affected by the hurricane,” Minister Hastings-Williams emphasised.

“As a government, we have responded through the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), who has been our main body that responds to any disaster that happens locally and internationally. And so, CDC along with private sectors, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and other stakeholders who were willing to come on board, responded very willingly,” she added.

According to the State Minister, the government is prepared to accommodate nationals returning to their homeland. She said food and accommodations are among the many measures already planned.

Minister Hastings-Williams said the first Guyanese family from the Bahamas arrived in Guyana this evening approximately 22:00hrs. The Grimmonds’ – a family of five, the minister said, was welcomed by herself and the Minister of Citizenship, Hon Winston Felix.

The family includes a three-week-old baby and according to the State Minister, a team will be onsite to register the toddler and to ensure that necessary documents are made available for the returning family. The minister also said requests were made for replacement of documents for individuals who will be returning to Guyana. She said plans are being instituted by the Ministry of Citizenship to assist Guyanese citizens with the process.

During the televised telethon, the State Minister was accompanied by the Director-General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig.

He highlighted that a counselling session has been prepared for disaster victims returning home to Guyana. “We have organised counselling sessions with the Ministry of Social Protection, because the experience will live with these individuals forever and we want to ensure that they receive some amount of counselling and support when they get here,” he explained.

According to the Director-General, they have contacted 108 persons via telephone in the Bahamas to determine what their needs are and this along with their contact information has been documented. “…every day we receive updates as to what is happening. So, we are working the scenes and we are working overtime to ensure that all persons who are affected receive support,” Craig highlighted.