Gleaner Story Published: Friday 6 September 2019
A number of soldiers from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) left the island yesterday for The Bahamas to carry out relief assistance following wide-scale devastation by Hurricane Dorian.
The first batch of soldiers from the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) was dispatched yesterday morning, and officials said that a second team would be sent in the evening. The Jamaican Government had requested help from Canada to airlift the second team because of the size aircraft needed to transport the soldiers and supplies.
“They will be airlifting both men and equipment. So Jamaica will have a presence in The Bahamas, and we will be at the disposal of the Bahamian government if they require further assistance,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness said yesterday.
He pointed out that he has been receiving updates from Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis.
“He has given me an update on the situation in the islands that have been affected,” Holness said at a press conference.
The DART will be most active in constructing temporary accommodation, establishing relief distribution areas, aiding in convoy security, clearing distribution routes, re-establishing power supply, and carrying out security tasks as requested by the home country.
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