The Tribune

CAPTAIN Stephen Russell accepted 25 refrigerators and 25 stoves donated by CIBC FirstCaribbean for residents of the central and southeast Bahamas severely affected by Hurricane Joaquin last October.

The appliances were donated at a press conference at the National Emergency Management Agency’s (NEMA) headquarters on Gladstone Road on June 24.

The appliances will be delivered to residents whose homes are being rebuilt by the National Repairs and Reconstruction Unit, in conjunction with NEMA.

The presentation on behalf of CIBC FirstCaribbean was made by the bank’s Managing Director Marie Rodland-Allen.

The new homes will house 25 families who lost their dwellings during the passage of the category four storm last year.

Following three months of discussion and planning, Captain Russell, NEMA’s director, and Melanie Roach, head of the NRRU, were ready in February 2016 to sign up local contractors to begin the work on 25 new homes.

The team went to Acklins, Crooked Island, San Salvador and Long Island, the areas hardest-hit, signed up local contractors and issued mobilisation cheques, materials distribution lists, building plans and building code manuals.

The initiative to build new homes was reported in the local newspapers, and CIBC FirstCaribbean’s donation committee stepped in to help with the process of re-housing 25 families as the bank’s Hurricane Joaquin relief effort.

Capt Russell thanked the bank for its “generous” donation, and again commended the private sector for contributing to the hurricane relief efforts. He also confirmed that the homes would be completed by the end of July.

Mrs Rodland-Allen said: “As a good corporate citizen, CIBC FirstCaribbean staff are encouraged to help when and where they feel it is needed. We don’t have a banking presence on Crooked Island, San Salvador or Long Island but our staff rose to the occasion and donated supplies to those most impacted by the hurricane last year; we had always intended to do even more. This donation of appliances is taking it a step further of course and it came about during a brainstorming session with staff on how we could make the most impact to those hard-hit by Hurricane Joaquin. Our enquiries led to Melanie Roach, head of the NRRU.”

Ms Roach advised that they needed 25 sets of fridges and stoves for the kitchens of 25 homes they were building on three of the Family Islands. CIBC FirstCaribbean decided to purchase them as the bank’s donation to the Hurricane Joaquin effort.

“We felt that it was a very useful, meaningful and direct method of assistance for those in need,” said Mrs Rodland-Allen. “I’m looking forward to visiting some of the homes to see the installation in progress and to meet the families moving in.”