he Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) thanks the citizenry of Trinidad and Tobago for your outpouring of support and the concern shown for the welfare of the People of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, especially the residents of Abaco Islands and the island of Grand Bahama, in the wake of Hurricane Dorian’s horrendous devastation.
The ODPM also wishes to thank the many individuals and corporate entities who have already made monetary contributions/donated items toward the relief effort.
We also wish to take this opportunity to encourage the members of the national community who have not yet had the opportunity to demonstrate their generosity, to give whatever little you can afford, since your donation will go a long way to alleviate the suffering of homeless families. To this end, persons are kindly reminded to utilise both the Preliminary Needs Listand NEMA’s Post Hurricane Dorian Relief Supplies 2019 List, that the Bahamian Government has made available (please see Appendices 2 and 3).
To further expand the collection drive, on Friday 06th September, 2019 the ODPM met with Relief Agencies at its Headquarters in Tacarigua. Attending the meeting were representatives from the Trinidad & Tobago Defence Force, the Foundation for the Enhancement & Enrichment of Life (FEEL), Unicomer Trinidad Ltd, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and the Trinidad & Tobago Red Cross Society.
Arising from the meeting, a total of 16 centres have now been established throughout the country (please see Appendix 1). In addition, the Chief Executive Officer of the ODPM, Major General (Retired) Rodney Smart, escorted by FEEL’s Chief Executive Officer, Elena Villafana-Sylvester, toured their warehouse where items were being readied to be airlifted into the Bahamas.
The Bankers Association of Trinidad and Tobago has also pledged their support to the relief effort and the public is advised that persons interested in making monetary contributions, may do so locally to the Bahamas Hurricane Relief Fund at First Citizens, Republic Bank (RBL) and Scotia Bank. For more information on the the list of Collection Relief Centers across Trinidad & Tobago visit: www.odpm.gov.tt