More than 50 Bermudians are interested in travelling with the Regiment to help repair the hurricane-hit Cayman Islands. The group includes current Regiment soldiers, retired soldiers and civilians.

Colonel Edward Lamb told that he would meet with the troops who have indicated their availability at Warwick Camp this morning.

He said the Regiment was expecting to deploy two groups of up to 25 officers for about two weeks each with the aim of providing a month of assistance to the Cayman Government.

Last night Regiment second-in-command Brian Gonsalves said some of the volunteers would be on the island for the entire month, while others would switch for the two-week shifts.

The civilians who signed up will actually become Regiment soldiers for the duration of their stay in Cayman, and as such will be subject to military discipline.

There is still time for those interested in signing up for the second two-week shift, beginning in the middle of October, by calling the Bermuda Regiment.

This week Governor John Vereker called on all able-bodied Bermudians to volunteer for the relief effort. Volunteers were urged to show up at Warwick Camp last night.

Forty-eight of the Regiment?s current soldiers will be going, with a further ten to 15 civilians. Acting Commanding Officer Gonsalves said last night the first group would be flown to the Caymans sometime on Friday in a Hercules military transport, lent to the Regiment by the RAF.

The soldiers do not have to take food and water, but were urged to bring anything that would make their stay in the battered islands more comfortable, including Camelpaks and toiletries.

The Regiment will also be taking its own tools and two vehicles.

Several of the civilians who signed up last night were tradesmen, and were asked to bring their personal tools on the journey as well.

Those still interested in signing up for the second two-week shift can call Captain Lauren Smith on 238-1045. Interested civilians will need a valid passport and must undergo a Police security check.

Based on a report submitted by a team of officers who highlighted the main problems in the Cayman Islands, Col. Lamb said the main objective of the deployment is to help restore normal services by clearing roads, helping with the rehabilitation of housing, and repairing Government buildings and schools.

Col. Lamb said up to 75 percent of home owners were struggling to make repairs. Portions of the island?s roads have been washed away and power lines are still down.

Bermuda has already extended assistance to the Cayman Islands through 11 Police officers who are continuing to assist with night patrols to prevent looting.

The British Government is providing the funding for the Police officers to continue to help with the recovery efforts.

Yesterday Deputy Governor Nick Carter said he did not have a figure for what it was expected to cost to keep the officers in the Caymans until Friday when they are expected to return to Bermuda.

The British Government provided 5,000 tarpaulins, 100 chain saws, water purification tablets for 40,000 people for 1 week, and 10,000 tetanus vaccinations and other medical supplies.

The UK Government?s Department for International Development is also prepared to consider any requests from the Cayman Government for further humanitarian supplies.