Civilians interested in contributing to the Hurricane Ivan relief effort in the Cayman Islands will not join Bermuda Regiment troops currently making preparations to leave Bermuda tomorrow.

Commanding Officer Colonel Edward Lamb said the decision not to take volunteer civilians was made after fully considering a number of issues, namely insurance, the physical fitness level of volunteers and accommodation.

Ten people including five former officers volunteered their efforts to help clear roads and repair buildings in the hurricane ravaged island.

Col. Lamb said the Regiment was grateful and appreciative of their interest but travelling as a military contingent may have been a considerable challenge for civilians not familiar with military protocol.

?Operating as a military unit has its own peculiarities,? said Col. Lamb. ?We are not spurning their offer of assistance or diminishing their ability but with soldiers we have a certain comfort level with the other soldiers that are under our command.?

He continued: ?The soldier?s lot is a hard lot ? they?re used to living in Spartan conditions.?

Tomorrow 35 Regiment volunteers will leave for the Cayman Islands with chainsaw kits, generators, a land cruiser vehicle, tarpaulins and general recovery equipment. They will stay in a high school turned into a shelter for relief workers in George Town, the capital.

?This is a great opportunity to practise what we do ? as members of the global village we are more than ready to answer the call for help.?