A three-man reconnaissance team from the Bermuda Regiment arrived in the Cayman Islands yesterday to scope out the Hurricane-hit archipelago for further aid.

Majors William White, Duncan Gregory and Herman Eve went after a request from the Cayman Government to help return the island?s basic infrastructure to normality.

The reconnaissance team?s task is to make an on-the-ground assessment of the extent to which the Bermuda Regiment?s skills and post-hurricane experience would be helpful, said a Government Press release.

It is estimated 25 to 35 Bermuda Regiment volunteers will be made available and Government last night encouraged employers to extend special consideration to employees who want to go.

In a report of the ongoing Overseas Territories Consultative Council conference, the Department of Communication and Information released a statement saying that Bermuda was warmly thanked by Cayman Island Government representative Jennifer Dilbert for its ?wonderful gesture? and that BVI?s Chief Minister Orlando Smith had pledged to do the same.

This week the Bermuda chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Council Andrew Dobson said those involved in the scheme had been greatly concerned about the impact of this year?s hurricanes in the Caribbean.

He said: ?Every year, participants and leaders travel to a Caribbean island to undertake their gold expeditions.

?All of the islands impacted have hosted expedition groups in recent years. This year?s gold award expedition was held in Grenada, so the pictures received from there have been particularly distressing.

?Grenada?s national director of the Award programme, Genieve Ghita, lost her home and all of her possessions.

?Caribbean Award expedition secretary Christine Morrell-Lewars, based in the Jamaica office, went into premature labour during Hurricane Ivan and had to be rushed to the hospital.

?She gave birth to a 3lb baby girl. Mother and baby are fine at present.

?We are yet to hear news from colleagues in the Caymans where a group of Award students recently undertook an exploration of the coral reefs.?

Yesterday Cable and Wireless pledged $1 million to kick start a new relief fund to rebuild communities in Grenada, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

Bermuda, along with the Turks and Caicos Islands and the British Virgin Islands have already sent Police officers to the Cayman to help maintain law and order there.