Ship To Carry Donations To The Bahamas
[Updated] Minister of National Security Wayne Caines is holding a press conference today [Sept 6] on “disaster relief efforts for the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian,” which slammed the islands as a powerful Category 5, causing at least 30 deaths and catastrophic damage.
Bermuda companies and residents have already started to assist, with BELCO on standby to send crews to help restore power, Bermuda headquartered Bacardi pledging $1 million for disaster relief in the Bahamas, BF&M also made a donation, and the Premier previously announced he reached out to the Bahamian Prime Minister to offer support.
Locals who wish to donate can do so via the Bermuda Red Cross, which launched an appeal to assist the Bahamas after the devastating impact of Hurricane Dorian.
We will have additional coverage of the Minister’s press conference later on and in the meantime the live video is below.
Update 11.57am: More information to come, but as a quick summary, the HMS Protector ship is in Bermuda now and will be heading to the Bahamas, and people are being asked to donate specific items to be transported to the Bahamas, with the ship set to leave on Monday.
The specific items they are seeking can be dropped off at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on King Street. We will have a list of those specific items they are seeking later on.
“The boat can take up to 200 tons,” said Minister Caines. “We are looking to get 200 tons from our country.”
Update: The live broadcast has concluded and the 16-minute replay is below
Donations can be delivered today [Sept 6] between 2.00pm and 6.00pm, Saturday [Sept 7] between 9.30am and 8.00pm, and Sunday [Sept 8] between 8.00am and 4.00pm.
We asked the Bermuda Government for the list of specific items needed, and they referred us to the Bahamas relief website, and the screenshot of the needed items is below, and our local officials noted they are seeking new items and cannot accept perishable goods.
Update 3.04pm: Minister Wayne Caines statement:
Good afternoon,
I must begin by thanking all members of the media for your attendance at today’s important press conference regarding the disaster relief efforts for the Bahamas Hurricane Dorian Relief Fund.
With regards to the items in need, attached you will find the list of acceptable goods and please note that all donated items must be new and non-perishable dry goods are most in need.
Whatever you would need in preparation for or following a hurricane are needed in the Bahamas.
With that in mind, all non-monetary donations must be delivered to the Hamilton Seventh Day Adventist Church located on King Street, adjacent to the Hamilton Fire Station.
Drop off times are today from 2:00 to 6:00pm, Saturday from 9:30am to 8:00pm and Sunday from 8:00am to 4:00pm.
Following this, the DRRM Team will coordinate further donation efforts from the Ministry of National Security and must be contacted via email at EMOGroup@gov.bm, or via text only to 441-501-0380.
This is an opportunity for all of us to roll up our sleeves and help financially, or by donating food and materials to our neighbours in the Bahamas.
The boat that will be transporting the goods can carry up to 200 tons of equipment, so we are looking to get 200 tons of donations.
We are also in need of 50 to 100 volunteers on Saturday and Sunday to help with the packing the items into containers.
If you are able to help, please arrive at 8:00 pm on Saturday and 8:00 am on Sunday.
I ask every person in Bermuda to donate and I expect every household to bring something to the Hamilton Seventh Day Adventist Church.
I challenge everyone in Bermuda and ask that you challenge your friends, family and neighbours to come out and donate.
If you wish to make monetary donations, they can be made to the following organizations:
1. We Care Project by direct deposit. The banking details are:
- BNTB Bank Account No. 060 1640520 014
2. Bermuda Red Cross Hurricane Dorian Relief Fund by:
- Direct Deposit to the Hurricane Dorian Relief Fund. The Banking details are-
- BNTB Bank Account No. 20 006 060 365472 200
- Clarien Bank Account No: 4010035760.
- Calling the Bermuda Red Cross at 236-8253 and providing debit or credit card details and donation amount.
- Visiting their offices or sending donations by mail to:
- Bermuda Red Cross
- Hurricane Dorian Disaster Relief Appeal
- Charleswood,
- 9 Berry Hill Road,
- Paget DV 03.
Thank you all for your support and may God bless the Islands of the Bahamas in their time of need.
Thank you, Royal Navy.
Thanks to bermuda for the help off my country. But can i come to bermuda to live and fine a job.
Sure, if there is no one in Bermuda that can do the job you want.
Thanks to everyone involved in organizing this!
Thank you, Caines et al!!!!
Thank you for your kindness, humbleness..helping people who are a part of us and a part of humanity!!!
You forgot to thank the people who will actually donate and don’t forget the people who own the HMS Protector.
HIS kindness? He is doing his job.
As much as I feel for them, and totally understand 5he seriousness of the situation. How dear minister DEMAND every house hold donate something.. news flash, every house hold isn’t in a position to do this.
We’re not all employed you see the figures your a minister.
where did he demand this?
On last night’s televised news .
On the evening news.
He demanded that every household donate?
That doesn’t sound right.
I’m not saying that I don’t believe you, but it sounds off…
Will you ALL just shut up and stop nitpicking at what he said, sometimes some people dont know how to say things in the manner that you like to hear because of their passion, but for Christ sake there is a country that is desperate and you @$$€$ are b!+€#ing over how he said somthing?
What a bunch of sensitive lemons.
Thank God there are some of us who bypassed de trivial and answered de call in de name of Humanitarian.
So much for your placards with Love wins.
PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Will you ALL just shut up and stop ”
When will you stop your incessant whining about absolutely everything.
You’re the most miserable person ever to live.
What is more important, B¡+€#ing about what he said or how he said it or catering to de needs of those in need.
Bunch of morons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All you ever whine about is what people say.
Quite ! And he’s still Bj+$#ing about someone saying ‘money doesn’t grow on trees’ which was then and still now a fact.
Where are the supplies going exactly, there are reports of nothing being able to get to Abaco, where they really really need it, real life accounts of ppl surviving off of rummaging thru stores etc. Dead bodies everywhere and poorly organized evacuation in process.
https://www.facebook.com/100001566712670/posts/2605403689521829/?sfnsn=mo
So let me get this straight… we are donating GOODS?
These times can go:
US -> Bda -> Bahamas
or
US -> Bahamas
In which case does the $ go further?
Not to worry potato juice…I had some saved…me n’wifey both gave….
oh , now the brits are good enough.
I am sure that most of the householders on the island have an abundance of disposable bed linens, towels, even un-used mattresses. Who requested new items??? The Bermuda Committe members to show how rich Bermuda is to the world, or the government of the Bahamas? This is ludicrous. When someone is desperately in need of a mattress to sleep on covered by clean sheets that might have been utlized once or twice by houseguests, that person is not going to tell the distributor that they only want “new items.” This is a catch and go that only enhances the pockets of local hardware and household goods suppliers. Are they offering 30% discounts for goods purchased for this delivery?? I don’t think so. I can see the urgency of supplying nappies, wipes, buckets, mops,etc. but to dictate to the general public the Committee will only accept only new items for these other household goods, is obnoxious. It is better to donate money to one of the established charities who have the buying power overseas to purchase mattresses, linens, hardwares, etc. abroad at half the price. This is the power of money — use it to its best advantage.
Buy some air mattresses and a manual pump and whatever else you can send on the ship, then your dollar isn’t divided between the charity executives.