KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government says 31 nationals affected by the passage of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas earlier this week, will soon be evacuated.
“We continue to communicate with our Honorary Consul in Nassau, Terrel Butler, and can confirm that in addition to 12 Jamaican construction workers evacuated from Grand Cay by their employer before the storm, a further 31 Jamaicans are expected to be evacuated from Abaco today, while others are in the process of being confirmed.
Missing Jamaicans found
“In addition, two Jamaican ladies, one of whom is a teacher, who were feared missing have been found safe and reunited with their families,” Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Kamina Johnson Smith, said in a statement Friday.
She said even as Jamaica tries to “process the overwhelming stories of loss, we give thanks for positive news, as efforts continue to locate and connect families”.
The Minister said that the ministry is making every effort to help Jamaicans connect with family members who may have been displaced by Hurricane Dorian, considered to be one of the worst storms in modern times that lashed the country on September 1 with winds in excess of 180 miles per hour (mph).
More than 30 people have been confirmed dead and the authorities have warned Bahamians to be prepared for “staggering” figures as rescue teams reach areas in Grand Bahama and Abacos most affected by the Category 5 hurricane.
Sense of brotherhood
Johnson Smith said that she is hoping that as Caribbean people, “we will all draw strength from the demonstrations of brotherhood resilience, and survival, emerging in this humanitarian crisis.
“To date, we have had no report of any loss of life among Jamaicans in The Bahamas as a result of the hurricane. We, however, recognize that there were significant Jamaican populations in Grand Bahama and Abaco, and are therefore prayerful about any further announcements in this regard,” said Johnson Smith.
“We will continue to be prayerful for all persons affected by this monstrous hurricane,” she added.
