Regional governments offer assistance as Dorian moves away from Bahamas
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) governments were on Tuesday preparing to provide assistance to The Bahamas as a near stationary Hurricane Dorian is expected to begin moving away from the archipelago even while continuing to pound Grand Bahama Island.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley said that Bridgetown is prepared to urgently assist Nassau while expressing her deep sadness at the “tremendous devastation and suffering on the Bahamian people that has been unleashed by Dorian.
She said Barbados is ready to dispatch personnel and equipment from the Barbados Defence Force and the Barbados Coast Guard as soon as it received the information required by the Bahamas government.
“The people of the Bahamas can rest assured that they are in our prayers, and that our resources, limited though they may be, will be deployed to help them through this most difficult time,” she added.
Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, who has been in touch with The Bahamas Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, said “our hearts and prayers are with the government and people of the Bahamas as they deal with the devastating impact of Hurricane Dorian, which even now, continues to batter parts of the territory.
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said Port of Spain has been in contact with the rest of CARICOM on the situation.
Rowley said he remains concerned for the Bahamas and has indicated the government’s willingness of his assist where necessary. He said as has happened in the past, Trinidad and Tobago will “demonstrate its compassion and willingness to help its CARICOM neighbour.”
Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who is also the chairman of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) said that the situation in the Bahamas must remind the region of the need for building more resilient homes.
St Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris said he had spoken to Minnis and “I assured him that we are praying for the people of the Bahamas and encouraged him to be strong.
Meanwhile, the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said that Dorian, which has been blamed for at least five deaths, was “still nearly stationary, but is expected to begin moving north-northwestward later on Tuesday morning” as it continues to pound the Grand Bahama.
