MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
by
The Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing
Senator, the Honourable Lieutenant Colonel David A. Burch, OBE (Mil), ED, JP
Turks & Caicos Support
Wednesday September 17th, 2008

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Mr. President, I wish to formally report on the deployment yesterday of a 52-strong contingent of Bermuda Regiment soldiers and Parks Department personnel to the Caribbean Island of Turks and Caicos.

The contingent and their 30,000 pounds of equipment and supplies were airlifted on two C130 transport aircraft supplied by the United States Coast Guard.

The Turks & Caicos Islands were struck by Category 4 Hurricane IKE on Sunday, 7 Sep 08. The eye of the Hurricane passed directly over the capital, Grand Turk Island. The last major Hurricane TCI experienced was back in the early 1960s.

Mr. President, Grand Turk, Salt Key & South Caicos experienced severe damage whilst the other islands Provincials, Middle and North Caicos experienced relatively minor damage. For the most part, the International Business and Tourist center, PROVO is back to normal.

A request for assistance was received from both the TCI Governor, Gordon Whetherell and TCI Premier Dr. Michael Misick.

Mr. President, on Tuesday September 9 a four man Bermuda Regiment reconnaissance (recce) team departed for Turks and Caicos to assess the damage and potential tasks for the Bermuda Regiment. Two members of that team remained on TCI to liaise with local authorities and make the necessary reception arrangements for the main body group.

Mr. President, the Royal Navy dispatched two of their West Indies Guard Ships to TCI to provide assistance. The United States Coast Guard relocated 3 JAY HAWK helicopters from Nassau to assist with airlift capacity.

Mr. President, the Bermuda Regiment contingent are likely to be engaged in clearing roads of debris, the protection of Government Buildings, assist with the erection of prefab housing. Additionally carpentry, masonry, electrical and plumbing skills will be employed and assist in placing tarpaulins on private residences. The Parks crew will assist the Utility Company with cutting trees and clearing debris.

Mr. President, to underscore the importance of this mission and our gratitude for those volunteering, Governor and Regiment Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency Sir Richard Gozney, Premier Dr. the Hon Ewart Brown, US Consul General Mr Gregory Slayton and I all attended at the airport to see the troops off and express our collective thanks for their efforts.

Mr. President, we anticipate a change over of approximately 25 personnel in two weeks and the return of the main body in a month’s time. I cannot express enough how pleased we are at the swiftness with which the Regiment and the Department of Parks responded to the call from our neighbours to the South.

Mr. President, it is a testament to the people of this country that we did not have to wait to be asked for help – our experience in hurricane preparedness has positioned us to be able to anticipate a request and prepare for same. I can tell you Mr. President, that I could not be more pleased with the level of cooperation in order to be able to conduct this mission.

Mr. President, I wish to record publicly the Governments thanks to His Excellency the Governor, Sir Richard who readily agreed that the Regiment could carry out this humanitarian task. And further to the United States Government, specifically the State Department and their Chief of Mission in Bermuda, Mr. Gregory W. Slayton for their support in this effort by providing airlift for the contingent to Turks and Caicos. And of course special thanks to the troops and volunteers from the Department of Parks for volunteering for this effort.

Thank you, Mr. President.