Plans have been set afoot for Dominica to provide relief supplies to neighbouring islands battered by Hurricane Irma.
The Hon Minister for National Security Rayburn Blackmoore is Chair of the Cabinet committee and chair of a joint private and public sector committee responding to hurricane Irma.
At a press conference on Monday, Hon Blackmoore confirmed that Dominica will focus on bringing relief supplies primarily to St. Martin, Anguilla and Tortola. “What is mostly needed now in terms of relief items, water and dry goods,” Hon Blackmoore informed.
Disaster Management Consultant, Cecil Shillingford gave more details on the relief supplies that will leave the island on Tuesday.
St. Martin will receive two 20ft containers, one with water and the other with dry goods while Tortola and Anguilla will each receive one 20ft container mixed with water and dry goods.
“This is just the initial shipment; for that shipment we are looking specifically at food ready-to-eat…,” Shillingford explained.
The goods put together by private companies will be taken to DEXIA and transported to Portsmouth from where they will be shipped using private boats.
The Government of Dominica will underwrite the cost of this relief effort.
The Disaster Management Consultant also informed that individuals and organisations wanting to make donations will soon receive further details on how these efforts will be coordinated.
Government has also set up a bank account at the National Bank of Dominica, the Hurricane Irma relief fund, individuals or organizations can make contributions using the account number 615000493.
