FLORIDA GOVERNOR JEB BUSH MEETS WITH OFFICIALS OF CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES AFFECTED BY RECENT STORMS  

September 28, 2004

Miami, Florida - Governor Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida called an urgent meeting on Thursday, September 23, 2004 with the Consuls General of the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, and Jamaica to discuss relief efforts for the Caribbean Islands which experienced the wrath of recent Hurricanes Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. 

The Consuls General were asked to give a full briefing on the damage and conditions of their respective countries.  The Governor assured the officials that while their suffering and needs are great, friends are ready to help.  “My office has been working closely with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State, and various non-governmental organizations, including the Florida Association for Volunteer Action in the Caribbean and the Americas, Inc. (FAVACA), and Americas Humanitarian Logistics Relief Team, a private sector relief effort bringing together more than 50 Florida-based companies, to address the issues of disaster response for our neighbours in the Caribbean.”  

“USAID has already mounted a major relief effort to assist Caribbean countries rebuilding from recent storms– providing over $2 million in humanitarian assistance to the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. And USAID has just announced that an additional $2 million, as well as much needed emergency supplies, are being made available from the U.S. government for Haiti’s disaster recovery efforts.  We applaud this response and look forward to better days for our Caribbean friends and neighbours.” 

Consul General of The Bahamas at Miami, Mrs. Alma Adams, in her address thanked the Governor on behalf of the Honourable Prime Minister Perry Christie and the people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas for taking the initiative to meet with her and her colleagues and at the same time extended condolences regarding the damage and devastation Florida was also experiencing from the hurricanes in their cities such as Punta Gorda and Pensacola to name a few.  Consul General Adams informed the Governor that the Bahamas Government recently made a public announcement of the estimate damage incurred to date ranging from $125 to $200 million. She also reported The Bahamas’ basic urgent need for building materials, plywood, rafters, shingles and wooden sidings, as well as supplies of water and food among other things. Estimated figures for damage by islands were also reported.  

Consul General Adams also used the opportunity to thank the people and leaders in the business community of Florida who have responded with great generosity, by way of donations of monetary contributions and shipping of supplies, especially to Grand Bahama.  Mention was made of a flotilla of yachts which went into West End, Grand Bahama on September 17^th to deliver donated supplies to the residents. 

Also in attendance at this meeting were representatives from Americas Relief Effort, Florida Association for Volunteer Action and the Caribbean and the Americas as well as representatives from major business donors such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Lucent Technologies, G.O.A.L. Inc. and FedEx. Representing The Bahamas Consulate General Miami at the meeting along with Consul General Alma Adams were Consul Sandra Carey, Mrs. Ingrid Stuart and Ms. Cleopatra Thompson.  Consul General Alma Adams' address

Photo with Governor Jeb Bush: 

Left to Right: Mrs. Ingrid Stuart, Sr. Information Officer, Consul General of Jamaica, Philip R. Allicock, Ms. Cleopatra Thompson, Admin. Asst. to Consul General, Consul Sandra Carey, Governor Jeb Bush and Consul General Alma A. Adams.