The extent of the damage and loss of life in The Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Dorian, has struck the core of leaders within the OECS prompting the grouping to provide financial assistance to their island neighbor.
The OECS Heads of Government took the decision that independent Member States would each make a contribution of USD 100,000 to The Bahamas. It was also decided in the meeting of the Heads that the non-independent Member States would explore alternative modalities to see what might be possible in terms of monetary and/or in-kind contributions.
OECS Director General, Dr. Didacus Jules highlighted the importance of ‘being our brothers’ keeper’, noting that while our thoughts and prayers go out to the Bahamas so too material assistance is an expression of love and bonds of family.
“Dorian reminded us that our sisterhood is not just a common history and that our brotherhood bears the scars of the same vulnerabilities. We are all connected and this is a role call of family, a call to give not as charity but as the obligation of family.
Bahamas’ burden of pain is also our anguish, Bahamas’ loss is our impoverishment. Yesterday for Dominica, BVI, Barbuda and Anguilla, today for the Bahamas. And, sadly with the inevitability of climate change, tomorrow for any of the rest of us.”
The government of Barbados held a National Mediathon on Sunday, dubbed Rise Again Barbados, where persons could pledge financial donations. Up to Tuesday, night, they had collected USD $30,000 online from over 300 donations.
Hurricane Dorian made landfall in The Bahamas as a Category 5 hurricane on Sunday, September 1, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 mph. It is the strongest Atlantic hurricane documented to directly impact a landmass since records began. The full extent of the damage is still unknown, and the death toll for the island nation continues to rise.