Government Sets Up Two Task Forces for Bimini Air Disaster

December 21, 2005

The Government of The Bahamas has reacted swiftly to the aircraft crash tragedy, which killed 11 Bahamians en route to Bimini.  The Cabinet decided this morning to convene twin special Task Forces, each headed by a Minister of Government.   

A statement from the Cabinet Office said the Task Forces are to be headed from the highest levels of Government.  The representative for Bimini, the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, will head a local task force dealing with the families of the dead and bereaved survivors in Bimini.  Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Fred Mitchell will head an overseas task force to co-ordinate advice and assistance to the families and bereaved survivors in Miami, Florida. 

The twin task forces will include representatives of the Department of Social Services, the National Insurance Board, the Department of Legal affairs and specialized grief counselors of the Ministry of Health. 

Minister Mitchell, who met Tuesday evening in Miami with the families and bereaved survivors there, will return Wednesday evening for a follow up with those Bahamians affected by the tragedy.  “I have directed Ambassador Joshua Sears, our Ambassador in the United States, to fly in from Washington to co-ordinate the work of the Task Force in providing assistance to the next of kin.”

end

The Cabinet Office
21 December 2005