Bermuda Regiment soldiers are knuckling down to get a nation ravaged by a Category Four hurricane back on its feet.

The deployment to the Turks and Caicos Islands is working so hard to repair damage to public buildings caused by Hurricane Ike, its Commander says if progress keeps up, it may no longer be necessary to send a second contingent.

Major George Jones, Contingent Commander in Turks and Caicos, said: "The soldiers were very excited to start and have done tremendous work. They have done Bermuda proud in their approach, hard work and effort."

Up to 52 personnel — including Parks Department staff, flew out to Grand Turk on Tuesday on a mission to get the country's infrastructure back up and running.

The soldiers' task is to repair school buildings and government offices, while Parks staff will concentrate on clearing roads of storm debris to enable utility companies to re-erect electricity poles and cables.

Housed in an established emergency shelter at the island's community college, the deployment is scheduled to be relieved in two weeks' time by a second contingent of soldiers.

However, Major Jones said yesterday: "That depends on how well we do. If we finish everything in the two weeks, there may be no need for a second group.

"So far everything is going well and we are making good progress. Today is the first day the troops have been deployed on the ground to do the work, and they have done so in earnest.

They were out at 8 a.m. on the work site and are going quicker than expected, so hopefully we will keep that up through the rest of the deployment.

"The TCI government has made a pledge to have the schools open on Monday to get children out of the devastation area and any risks to health and safety, such as exposed nails and so on.

"The soldiers are repairing roofs and putting fences around the schools for the children's security and safety, and are tidying up the buildings and other damage.

"Schools will be ready to open on Monday, without a doubt. They are 85 percent ready in terms of semi-permanent and permanent repairs."

Major Jones said the Regiment is also busy re-installing a chain-link fence around Grand Turk's main port, to ensure security for relief supplies coming in. Meanwhile, Parks staff are clearing a main road plus access roads to government buildings and Governor Gordon Wetherell's official residence Government House.

"The strength of the Category Four winds ripped 85-90 percent of electricity poles out of the ground," said Major Jones.

"The storm damage is quite severe, with many corrugated metal roofs blown off of buildings. Not all the structures here are built as we are fortunate to have in Bermuda."

He said that many wooden structures have also sustained collapse, while plants and trees bear the scars of 130-plus mile an hour winds.

"The length of Grand Turk got beaten by sustained winds blowing southerly, and so all the shrubbery is facing in the same direction, almost like a compass," said Major Jones.

Hurricane Ike is said to have damaged 80 percent of homes in Grand Turk and South Caicos.

Major Jones said: "There's quite significant damage to some houses but our emphasis is on the infrastructure so normality can resume."

He said the people were "very grateful" for Bermuda's relief effort. "There has been a very positive response, especially given the devastation these people have suffered."

Soldiers saw the scale of Hurricane Ike's impact on a tour of some of the worst hit areas on Wednesday.

Major Jones said: "I think that really hit home, they seemed very moved by the extent of the devastation. I think it compelled them to come out and do the best they can. Morale is very high."