Governor Expresses Condolences After Storm
The Governor, Mr George Fergusson, has added his condolences to the widespread feelings of sadness and concern in Bermuda for the devastation on Dominica following last week’s Tropical Storm Erika.
The Royal Navy Fleet Auxiliary ship, RFA Lyme Bay, which visited Bermuda in July, and is equipped specifically for disaster recovery work, arrived in Dominica on Wednesday.
The helicopter from the RFA Lyme Bay in Bermuda in July 2015:
The Prime Minister of Dominica, Mr Roosevelt Skerritt, tweeted that the ship had arrived at “our cargo port at Woodbridge Bay here in Dominica bringing bedding, shelter, torches, stretchers, helicopter, water”.
The ship’s arrival followed a contribution last weekend by the UK Department for International Development of £300,000 [$450,000] in an immediate financial contribution to Dominica’s recovery. The European Union has made a further contribution of 1 million euro.
A report from the AFP said, “Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is pleading with world leaders to come to the rescue of his Caribbean island nation after it was battered by a tropical storm that killed at least 31 people.
“Another two dozen remain missing, including two French nationals, after Tropical Storm Erika barreled her way through late last week. The death toll has risen steadily since the storm hit the island of 72,000.”
“In a message to the nation on Monday night, Skerrit said 21 nationals and two French citizens are missing.
He added: “We have written to all foreign governments for help and assistance and I can tell you that the responses that we have received thus far are tremendous.”
If anyone would like to contribute to the relief effort in Dominica, their official government website contains information which may be helpful.
Blessings to the people of Dominica, our hearts go out to you.. 70,000 people and 31 deaths and counting.. That’s horrible! Imagine how we would feel if we lost 31 people in one swoop here, with a similar population.. That would reverberate through this community for years! If you can help please help.
31 people?….that is an unnacceptable number…one is an unnacceptable number….how does this occure….what needs to happen for this to change…?