Assistance to Bahamas will be coordinated

His Excellency the Governor, Martyn Roper and The Honourable Premier Alden McLaughlin confirmed today that Cayman assistance to Bahamas will be coordinated with regional partners and provided after needs are clarified now that the storm has passed. Cayman has already offered air support from the RCIPS Air Operations Unit although this may not be required as significant air support is now being provided by the US and UK authorities. An offer of medical support, similar to that provided to Anguilla in 2017, is also being made and needs are being confirmed with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). Government will also consider offering a Cayman Airways relief flight to deliver necessary support.

The Premier said: “It is vital that relief efforts are coordinated effectively by the international community and major humanitarian NGOs. Providing financial support and ensuring regional partners have access to our equipment and other physical assets, should they require them, is the best way that we can support the people of the Bahamas at this time”.

The Governor commented that: “I know that Caymanians feel a strong sense of empathy with the people who have been affected by Hurricane Dorian. As the Red Cross has pointed out, the collection of unsolicited goods by the public and organisations can harm relief efforts following disasters such as this. I would urge the public to provide assistance by providing funding to relief organisations like the Red Cross to enable appropriate and targeted assistance to be effective”.