Soldiers fly out today for Turks and Caicos
Bermuda Regiment soldiers, joining forces with the United States Coast Guard, will be travelling this afternoon to Turks and Caicos to assist with the damage caused by Hurricane Ike.
Responding to the dire conditions in the Turks and Caicos Islands following Hurricane Ike, the two countries will be providing humanitarian assistance to the residents.
After a request for assistance from Governor Sir Richard Gozney, the US State Department officially asked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — of which the Coast Guard is a part — to approve an appeal for assistance from the Governor of the Turks and Caicos, Mr. Gordon Wetherell.
The Coast Guard agreed to provide two C-130 Hercules planes to ferry 60 volunteer Regiment soldiers and their equipment, totalling 32,885 lbs, to Turks and Caicos, and then fly them back to the Island in about four weeks.
The majority of the soldiers were set to leave yesterday afternoon but due to engine trouble it has been postponed until today.
The rest of the volunteers along with some Bermuda Electric Light Company (BELCO) crew will be leaving on Tuesday.
The American Consulate in Bermuda processed a dozen urgent transit visas for the BELCO crew who will accompany the troops. Sir Richard reached out to the US Consul General Gregory Slayton for assistance in securing the services of the US Coast Guard.
That request was forwarded to the Department of State in Washington, DC, which then coordinated with DHS to make it happen.
Consul General Slayton said, "The United States is pleased to do its part to facilitate Bermuda's humanitarian airlift to the Turks and Caicos.
"The US Coast Guard is committed to confronting the inherently dangerous maritime environment.
"It works closely with other nations to provide fast and effective response to distress calls, whether it be search and rescue missions in the waters around Bermuda or the provision of transportation to get humanitarian supplies to an island in desperate need.
"Our hopes and prayers are with the people suffering in the Turks and Caicos."
