Hurricane-ravaged Dominica grateful for Tank-Weld donation
The Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs in Dominica has confirmed that the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) has received a donation of 14,000 sheets of galvalume sheeting valued at US$200,000 (EC$540,000.00) from The TankWeld Group in Jamaica. The material was donated by TankWeld to assist the government and people of Dominica in its rebuilding programme following the recent devastation of the island by Hurricane Maria. The Tank-Weld Group’s donation also covers shipping and port handling costs. Dominica’s Foreign Minister Francine Baron said the donation would enable the CDEMA and military engineering units from Jamaica and other CARICOM states “to continue their support to the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) for emergency and reconstruction programmes on the island following the devastation wrought to the island’s housing.” Dominica’s Housing Minister, Reginald Austrie, has expressed his appreciation for the donation, indicating that it constitutes a significant contribution to the massive reconstruction challenge facing his ministry.
“I have to applaud Chris Bicknell and Garnet Roper of the Tank-Weld Group and its partner OSLO Bulk for their generous contribution towards our struggle on the front line of climate change. It represents a very strong commitment of the private sector,” he said.
EXTREME LOSS
Bicknell, chairman and CEO of Tank-Weld, stated that it was vital that people bond together to help those in need, especially when natural disasters result in extreme loss and suffering.
“Hurricane Maria affected the lives of each Dominican. We (at Tank-Weld) are optimistic that our donation will help them to rebuild homes and other important infrastructure so they can return to normality,” said Bicknell.
Hurricane Maria struck Dominica on September 18, affecting 90 per cent of all buildings, destroyed roads and bridges, and forcing a near-total disruption of economic activity on the 290-square-mile republic.
Caribbean governments have been quick to respond, dispatching food, water and emergency personnel to support Dominica’s disasterresponse agencies.