Just over $5,000 has so far been donated to the Bermuda Red Cross for aid to islands in the Caribbean that were mauled by Hurricane Ivan.

Many local community groups and offices have been contacting the Red Cross to find out how they can assist.

Last night, Finance Minister Paula Cox said Bermuda was ready to help the Caribbean recover. She added financial aid will be given from the Red Cross and possibly the governments of hard hit islands of Grenada, Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Cuba.

Ivan has killed 68 people including at least 15 people in Jamaica and 39 in Grenada.

Other businesses and groups lending a hand are Rock Island Coffee and Island Trading - who have put out buckets for donations.

OIL Insurance will be having a denim day this Friday with all donations going to the Red Cross.

The Bermuda Scout Association will be hiking on Saturday with knapsacks on their backs for locals to place money in. The hike will begin at 10 a.m. with one group leaving from St. George's and one from Somerset. The hike will end around 3 p.m. in Hamilton.

If anyone has any questions about the hike they can call Patty Burchall at 296-7784 or 295-7122.

Spring Garden Restaurant will be donating their cover charges from Friday and Saturday nights to the Red Cross - this could amount to over $3,000 according to a press release.

And the Sharks Swim Club will also provide collection buckets for donations.

Meanwhile, two local law firms are working to help their staff in the Cayman Islands.

Conyers Dill and Pearman (CD&P) have over 20 staff in the Cayman office and are looking to bring some of them to Bermuda for comfort and business continuity, said marketing manager, Ross Webber.

“Our primary concern at this time is for the safety of our people. We have been in touch with several and those we have heard from our safe,” he said.

Preliminary reports have indicated that CD&P's building at Century House in Cricket Square, George Town is still intact, Mr. Webber added.

He said that it was clear from reports that the Cayman Islands have suffered significant damage and flooding and that full communication channels are still not open.

“We have advised our clients and friends that business communications can be routed through our Bermuda office as well as other offices in Hong Kong, London, British Virgin Islands, and Singapore.”

Chief Executive Officer of Appleby, Spurling, and Hunter (AS&H), James Jardine, said last night that contact with the Cayman Islands was very difficult.

AS&H has between 80 and 90 employees in the Cayman Islands and they have all been accounted for, he said.

He said that the airport should be opening today or tomorrow and electrical power may be restored this week. The rest, he said, was very sketchy because contact with the island had been a challenge. The AS&H office building received some flooding damage from Ivan.