Burt: Regiment could reinforce island’s Jamaica relief
The island’s concerted hurricane relief for Jamaica could be bolstered by the Royal Bermuda Regiment, the Premier told the House of Assembly this morning, as he highlighted the battalion’s “longstanding relationship” with the Jamaica Defence Force.
David Burt told MPs that the Government would look into Bermuda’s own budgetary quota for hurricane relief, in consultation with the Jamaica Government, to see how it could help ensure that “key needs are met on the island”.
Hurricane Melissa, which passed to the west of Bermuda on the night of October 30, roared ashore in Jamaica two days earlier as a far more powerful Category 5 hurricane.
As the worst storm in the island’s history, it inflicted catastrophic damage — with Bermuda sending its first delivery of aid by air on Tuesday.
Mr Burt said in the House that he would consult with Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, along with Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, and Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan Simons, the RBR’s Commanding Officer, to assess “how the Bermuda Regiment can best assist in the coming weeks and months”.
He praised the “incredible” co-ordinated relief organised in Bermuda by the community in tandem with the Jamaican Association, the Government and the Bermuda Hospitals Board, which sent roughly $80,000 in medical supplies.
Mr Burt added: “As much havoc as Melissa wrought, the spirit of the Jamaican people is undaunted.
“Their resilience and determination to emerge stronger from this unprecedented natural disaster has inspired the world.”
However he emphasised that rebuilding would be a long journey, requiring continued assistance from global and regional partners.
The Premier also highlighted the “new reality regarding weather patterns” in light of climate change generating more powerful hurricanes, fuelled by increasingly warm seas in the region.
Hurricane Melissa came late in the Atlantic season, which officially runs from June 1 to November 30.
Mr Weeks rose separately to commend hurricane responses in Bermuda as he gave “a post-mortem on the recent storms that visited our shores — namely Hurricane Imelda and Hurricane Melissa”.
In both cases, the Emergency Measures Organisation was mobilised to co-ordinate preparation, enabling the island to “significantly reduce the threats to our safety and security”.
Mr Weeks commended the “accurate and timely” updates of the Bermuda Weather Service, and the public readiness for both hurricanes without becoming “storm weary”.
He added: “I do not have to remind this House that both hurricanes caused significant power outages, leaving thousands without electricity in their wake. But that is not the real story.
“The real story is the remarkable speed with which the wonderful workers at Belco restored power to our citizens.”
Mr Weeks noted that Melissa left close to 20,000 homes and businesses in the dark, adding: “Amazingly, within mere days, the vast majority of those without power had been restored.”
He praised “all the staff at public works, parks and the Royal Bermuda Regiment, for their sterling efforts”, along with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation team.
Mr Weeks added: “My plea today is for all of Bermuda to remain vigilant and watchful during the remainder of this hurricane season.
“We can ill afford to let our guards down at this time.”
• To read both ministerial statements, see Related Media
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