The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

CHURCH of God (Bahamas) donated $5,000 and a number of other hurricane relief supplies on Friday to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to aid in providing relief to islands severely impacted by Hurricane Joaquin.

At the W M Johnson Auditiorium of the Church of God Convention Centre on Joe Farrington Road, Church of God Administrative Bishop Moses Johnson donated a $5,000 cheque, over $1,000 worth of food and water supplies, as well as various clothing and toiletries to NEMA officials to assist in the ongoing relief efforts. 

Bishop Johnson also announced that on Tuesday, he and his executive council will travel to Long Island with more supplies to aid its parishioners and pastors on the island in relief efforts. 

"When disaster hits this country, it is important that we come together," Bishop Johnson said. "And I am impressed with how the people have responded to the disaster of our southern islands. So we in the Church of God want all to know that we are praying for them, and we're not just praying; but we are with them with our monies, we are with them with our goods and supplies.

"And this is not all," he added. "We shall be making a trip to Long Island and taking some stuff with us to assist our parishioners and pastors on Long Island that was hit by the hurricane." 

Luke Bethel, NEMA operations officer, graciously accepted the donation on behalf of NEMA Director Captain Stephen Russell, saying that officials will do their best to ensure that the supplies are distributed in an efficient manner.

"Officially on behalf of the director of NEMA I say thank you very much for this kind donation, finance and the food distribution," he said. "We will, with an honest and fair effort, receive this stuff, accept it, have it distributed accordingly to the demands of the population in order of priority. So it will be accounted for, and we will be reporting back to you on its distribution."

Recovery efforts continue to pour in the aftermath of Hurricane Joaquin, which ripped through the southern islands last week. Long Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, San Salvador and Rum Cay were hit hard by the storm, which tore off roofs, brought chest high storm surges in some areas, knocked out walls and uprooted utility poles. 

In Crooked Island, the category four storm left 65 per cent of the homes with major damage. Many people in the affected islands are now homeless and depending on donations from charities and volunteer groups to survive. 

With water such an essential part of life and good health, the management and staff of The Medical Pavilion Bahamas, including the offices of Dr Lorne Charles and Dr Wesley Francis, have donated over 1,000 gallons of water to NEMA this week.

“In the wake of such an emergency, many of our team members have donated in one or more ways," Domica Davis, Marketing and Public Relations Officer of The Medical Pavilion said. "As a company, we saw it fitting to show our support and partner with NEMA to help supply critical necessities such as fresh water.” Dr Conville Brown, CEO of the company, doubled the amount of water donated by the staff, bringing the total to well over 1,000 gallons donated to the cause.