KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Government of Jamaica has dispatched a team of six persons to the Turks and Caicos Islands to provide support in the aftermath of the impact of Hurricane Ike on the islands.
The Turks and Caicos, home to many Jamaicans, was hit by the powerful Category 4 Hurricane Ike on Sunday, September 7, destroying more than 80 percent of the homes. The hurricane also left the airport under water, downing power-lines and sweeping away every single boat.
Jamaica’s response is in keeping with its mandate under the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) regional response mechanism, where member countries of the Agency offer needs assessment in the event of a disaster.
Representatives of the team sent to the Turks and Caicos were drawn from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the Ministry of Health, The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Canadian High Commission, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The team is expected to return to Jamaica on Thursday.
