The Tribune

BY DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT – An appeal has been made to Grand Bahama residents to support relief efforts for typhoon victims in the Philippines.

Island administrator Alexander Williams said Grand Bahamians have gone through several devastating storms and know about the pain and devastation.

He noted that the Grand Bahama Disaster and Consultative Committee, which is an arm of NEMA, has also sent out an appeal to the Grand Bahama Christian Council inviting their member churches to join the effort in gathering assistance for victims of super Typhoon Haiyan.

The typhoon left many thousands dead and hundreds of thousands displaced in the Philippines.

A group of Filipino residents in Grand Bahama organised a cookout at Taino Beach to raise funds to help with relief efforts in their homeland.

Administrator Williams is encouraging residents to support the relief efforts.

“We are making a plea to all and sundry throughout the island to do whatever they can to render assistance.

“The Christian Council president and vice president have been very receptive to the plea and promised they would advance it to their 200 member churches on Grand Bahama.”

Mr Williams said whatever is donated will be presented to the Filipino movement on Grand Bahama for the victims in the Philippines.

“We in Grand Bahama are known to be in the pathway of hurricanes: there was Floyd, Frances, Jeanne, Wilma, and Sandy. We had our share and we know the hurt and feeling of desperation and destitution and we share that feeling with the victims in the Philippines, and as a community of kindness and mercy we reach out to them and will do what we can to assist,” he said.

Dr Catherin Francisco, one of the organisers of the cookout, said some businesses and institutions have reached out to assist them.

“So far we have been working for the past five days and we are pretty much organised and ready for Saturday,” she said.

“We have been getting calls from Bahamian Food Services and other institutions that are willing to extend help to us.

“We have also approached the churches, and some have already responded and said they will help us.”

“We are very grateful for their assistance because we really need the help. It is very gratifying to know that Bahamians are willingly to support and reach out to the help us.”

Dr Francisco said the typhoon was devastating.

“This is a big tragedy. We can’t go back home to be with our families, and so this is the best we can do,” she said.

The cookout is on Taino Beach from 11am to 3pm on Saturday. There will many Filipino native dishes on offer.