Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie
has expressed shock and concern over the crash of Chalk's Airlines
flight from Miami to Bimini.
December 20, 2005
"Tragically, it now appears that there has
been loss of life. The nation wishes to express its deepest
condolences to the people of Bimini on their apparent loss. I
have spoken to the representative Obie Wilchcombe and I have asked
him to personally convey my regret and deep sorrow in this matter.
I ask all Bahamians to join in prayer for what appears to be a most
serious tragedy.
"I have dispatched both the Represenative
Obie Wilchcombe and the Minister of Transport & Aviation Glenys
Hanna Martin to Bimini. It is expected that they will be
joined tomorrow by other senior Government officials."
"Resources of the Government are to be
committed to finding out what went wrong and to assisting Bahamian
families in their time of bereavement. The Government will
keep the country advised as more information becomes
available."
The Bahamas Consul General in Miami, Mrs. Alma
Adams is now directly on the scene working with the Miami Police
Department and the emergency services in Dade County. Mrs.
Adams has also already met with some family members on the scene of
the accident.
At first light tomorrow, Tuesday, the flight
inspectorate of The Bahamas Government will dispatch a flight
standards inspector to coordinate on behalf of The Bahamas
information between the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and
the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The Bahamas Department of Civil Aviation has
already been in contact with the FAA in Washington and is expecting
a formal report shortly.
- end -
Office of The Prime Minister
19th December, 2005
