News Release: Hamilton, Bermuda –  Premier David Burt met yesterday with the Bahamian-Bermuda Association coordinating committee, for the Northern Bahamas Hurricane Relief Fund.

This committee has established a Registered Charity (designated account) to facilitate their fundraising initiative and met with the Premier to discuss plans to further assist this humanitarian effort.  They have received an overwhelmingly compassionate interest from the Bermudian community.

Premier Burt said: ”Our heartfelt prayers continue to go out to the Bahamas as they come to grips with the devastation of Hurricane Dorian. We will work with the Bahamian Association of Bermuda to offer support and ensure our collaborative relief efforts.”

Residents can assist the people of the Bahamas by providing cleaning supplies, building supplies, safety and hygiene supplies, and non-perishable food items. For more information and to offer assistance contact the Bahamian Association of Bermuda at 297-2326.

The UK Ministry of Defence has released aerial images of the damage from Dorian on Great Abaco, in The Bahamas. They were taken from a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter.

Meanwhile, National Security Minister Wayne Caines announced today that “disaster relief efforts” by local companies and residents have already started, with BELCO crews on standby to send help restore power.

The HMS Protector is in Bermuda to deliver specific items donated to be transported to the Bahamas on Monday.

Those items can be dropped off at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on King Street in Hamilton.

The Minister said today: “The boat can carry up to 200 tonnes. We are looking to get 200 tonnes for our country.”

We’ll have more on that story in another report.