The Tribune

A HIGH-energy, entertainment-packed five-hour national “Rebuild Bahamas” telethon to raise funds for the rebuilding and equipping of schools, re-establishing commerce and providing clean water for the southern islands devastated by Hurricane Joaquin has been set for Tuesday, October 27.

The telethon will be broadcast live from 6pm to 11 pm on ZNS, Cable Bahamas and JCN with live feeds to radio. It will come from Atlantis, Paradise Island, where a phone bank of 18 lines for donations is being provided by BTC. Hundreds of Bahamians and visitors are expected to come together in support of the fundraising event.

“In this time when so many have lost everything they had and escaped the horrendous storm with only the clothes on their back, Bahamians have shown compassion in unprecedented ways, providing thousands of tons of emergency relief, food, supplies, tarps, portable stoves and more. Now, the Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas and the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation are pooling resources to stage a telethon to raise funds for the purpose of rebuilding schools, getting businesses back up and running and ensuring there is clean, safe water,” a statement issued over the weekend jointly by the Chamber and Rotary said.

“It will only be when schools are open, children are back in classrooms and when businesses begin to function again that a sense of normalcy will return to these islands where those who endured the Category 4 storm hovering over them for as much as 36 hours were tested. We are fortunate that there was no loss of life, but there was a tremendous loss of the quality of life that was enjoyed before and it is our goal to rebuild, restore and revitalize though we know it may take a very long time.”

The Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Ministry of Tourism are all lending support, the latter two participating in organising a full line-up of musical artists.

Co-chairs of the telethon, Diane Phillips and Alexia Coakley, said the effort would not be possible without the full co-operation of dozens of participants and partners.

“Everyone we phoned said ‘What can I do to help?’” they said. “The support has been overwhelming, from the more than 100 persons who will rotate on the phone bank to the entertainers and rotating MCs from every media house in New Providence and some of the Family Islands.”

Major sponsors include Atlantis, which has donated the Imperial Ballroom, BTC, ZNS and The Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas, Cable Bahamas, Nassau Guardian Group of Companies, The Tribune, Radio House, Jones Communications, PEACE FM, MORE 94.9, 1st Caribbean, the Royal Bahamas Police Force Pop Band, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and more than a dozen entertainers who will perform live.

A full line-up schedule will be released this week and people are invited to attend and bring cash or cheques as well as to call in with credit or debit card donations. Phone numbers will be published on the telethon Facebook page.