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First batch of Guyanese from Hurricane-ravaged Bahamas set to return today
The first batch of Guyanese returning home from the hurricane-ravaged Bahamas is scheduled to arrive this evening at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). Approximately 100 Guyanese affected by the hurricane had reached out to government for assistance through the Civil Defence Commission (CDC). It was reported that persons affected directly and indirectly by the Category 5 hurricane have signaled their interest in returning home.
A Bahamian Army Officer delivers water to the people evacuated prior boarding a ferry to Nassau at the Port in Marsh Harbor, Abaco Island, Bahamas, Saturday. Sept. 7, 2019. The Bahamian Health Ministry said helicopters and boats are on the way to help people in the affected areas, though officials warned of delays because of severe flooding and limited access. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Already, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said that Guyana will welcome everyone with open arms. At a forum last week, he said, “We have such a big land so we can accommodate everybody. We have a couple of small islands in the Essequibo, so we will want to do something about it.” The hurricane made landfall on the Abaco Islands with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) on September 1. It is the strongest hurricane on record to affect the northwestern Bahamas.
The death toll of the hurricane stands at 50 and some 2,500 persons are missing. The death toll is expected to rise, according to reports. Some 70,000 people are said to be homeless and 5,000 have been evacuated from those islands to New Providence, where the country’s capital Nassau is situated. Presently, crews are on the islands removing debris, but these efforts have been slow to avoid disturbing bodies in the wreckage.
Guyana, several countries and international organisations have been providing relief to victims of the devastating hurricane. The CDC in his efforts has opened two bank accounts for persons to make contributions. They are Republic Bank Account #651-993-8 and Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Accounts #011802963011. GBTI has already contributed $3M to hurricane relief efforts.
Guyana has always been supportive and receptive of victims of tropical storms. When hurricanes Irma and Maria ravaged several Caribbean countries back in 2017, many Guyanese living in those parts returned home and were reintegrated. Among those countries were Dominica, Barbuda – the sister island of Antigua, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Anguilla.
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