After nearly two weeks of tirelessly working to help Turks and Caicos Islands recover from the devastating wrath of Hurricane Ike, most of the Bermuda Regiment and Parks Department personnel returned last night.

In total 52 volunteers flew out to Grand Turk on September 16 to get the country's infrastructure back up and running following the devastation from the Category Four hurricane.

Initially the Bermuda team was expected to be in the country's capital, Grand Turk, for four weeks, however hard work and perseverance ensured they completed their tasks in two weeks.

Ike damaged nearly every building in Grand Turk after it made its first landfall with sustained winds over 130 miles per hour.

The soldiers helped to repair school buildings, government offices and the Islands' hospital. They also cleared government land of debris, re-erected a security fence at the island's port terminal and repaired a reverse osmosis plant.

Meanwhile Parks staff cleared roads and public areas of fallen trees and storm debris, including the National Arboretum. Together with the Department of Coastal Resources they also restored one of the coastal areas key to tourism industry.

Yesterday evening 45 personnel returned on a United States Coast Guard C-130 transport aircraft. The remaining personnel will return today.

The early completion of their tasks means that a second contingent of volunteers, which was expected to leave this week, is no longer required.