Heavy-Duty Vehicles Donated to Help Hurricane Dorian Rebuilding Efforts

The trucks were donated by United States’ Mahindra Automotive North America, Global X Sports and Tropicars in partnership with the Sandals Foundation.

Raymond Grobelny General Manager at Tropicars said the heavy-duty vehicles will bring added value to the work taking place along the islands’ rugged terrain.

“These powerful vehicles will help the relief and rebuilding efforts of the Bahamian Government in a big way! They have a turbo diesel engine, can tow 3400lbs, and are equipped with a heavy duty Warn Winch and LED lights which will allow emergency crews to work around the clock and gives them the power needed to get the job done.”

Upon first glance of the vehicles, an elated Captain Stephen Russell, Director at the National Emergency Management Agency described the vehicles as “lovely”.

He noted that the generous donation will support the law enforcement efforts, security and rescue support, as necessary on Grand Bahama and Abaco.

“We are indeed very thankful to the donors for their kind gesture in being one of the many who tremendously support NEMA’s and the Government’s efforts in this recovery phase,” Captain Russell said.

The vehicles, he said, “will add to wide-ranging efforts as we seek to restore essential government services, provide housing for evacuees and restore and rebuild the communities impacted by the monster Category 5 hurricane.”

The Sandals Foundation has been a key partner of NEMA and other local government entities to coordinate relief and recovery response following the passage of the category 5 storm.

Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation expressed that the impact of the Foundation was made possible because of a global network of partners, guests, well-wishers, travel agents and Sandals Resorts International.

“We are grateful for the very strong community of support that answered the call to respond to the Relief Effort needs in Northern Bahamas. So far, with the help of all our partners, the Sandals Foundation has been able to raise USD $400,000 and provide relief in cash and kind at a total value of USD $1.2 million.”

Moving forward, Clarke says, the Sandals Foundation will be working, “closely with NEMA and the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association to identify long-term rebuilding projects in the areas of schools, children’s homes and health clinics.”

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OUTLINING IMPACT OF RELIEF EFFORTS IN NORTHERN BAHAMAS

The Sandals Resorts were fortunate to be hundreds of miles away from the storm and as such, suffered no effects. This advantageous position offered a unique opportunity to mobilize efforts for help. To date we have been able to execute the following:

Raise USD$400,000 and provide relief in cash and kind at total value of USD $1.2 million;
In partnership with Food for the Poor & the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), we have supplied victims with a wide range of first response items  such as hygiene kits, diapers, flashlights, tarpaulins, gloves, garbage bags, tin food;
We have provided meals and drinking water to hundreds of people both on the islands of Abaco & Freeport, and in Shelters in Nassau with the support and volunteer team at Sandals Royal Bahamian;

Working alongside Team Rubicon UK, NEMA and UN we have facilitated rescue missions in the most remote areas of the Northern Bahamas;

With the help of the Sandals Royal Bahamian Team we have aided medical response with the delivery of key linens to medical personnel and bedding to shelters;

In partnership with the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association,  NEMA and Odyssey Aviation we have provided funding for fuel for emergency transportation of evacuees and aid workers;

In partnership with Mahindra Automotive North America, 5 heavy-duty ROXOR off-road vehicles have been donated to NEMA to assist recovery and resettlement efforts;

To help our young children who have been displaced by the storm, we have distributed much needed school supplies to 150 children relocated to Exuma;

With the assistance of the team at Sandals Emerald Bay, the Exuma Foundation and Bahamas Social Services, we have started rehabilitation of the Roleville Emergency Shelter in Exuma. and

In partnership with the One on One Foundation and Cable and Wireless, we have purchased 500 learning tablets to allow students access to an online learning platform so they are kept up-to-date with their academic curriculum and prepared for the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) exams