Minister praises Royal Bermuda Regiment contingent after hurricane recovery work in St Elizabeth
A recent regimental deployment to Jamaica to provide humanitarian aid following Hurricane Melissa has been described as a “demonstration of solidarity between small islands that understand the realities of vulnerability to extreme weather events.”
The comment came from Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, who said Bermuda is making a “huge statement on the international stage about cooperation and collaboration amongst regional partners in times of distress and need.”
He told parliamentarians that the two-week deployment of 27 soldiers, approved by Cabinet, cost just over $241,000.
The troops were embedded with the Engineer Regiment of the Jamaica Defence Force and were tasked primarily with repairing damaged roofs in the parish of St Elizabeth, one of the areas most severely impacted by the storm.
Minister Weeks delivered the remarks in the House of Assembly after travelling to Jamaica with the Governor to see the soldiers during their mission.
“What I saw, Mr Speaker, was a Bermuda contingent of eager, professional and organized soldiers who were making an immense impact on the lives of people in St Elizabeth Parish,” said Minister Weeks.
“Mr Speaker, remarkably, our troops were erecting a new roof at a rate of every two days and were doing so with the utmost expertise and palpable enthusiasm. I could see true Bermudian craftsmanship on full display with astounding results. Added to the skill and speed with which our soldiers are working, it was clear to me that their morale was very high and that they were enjoying the opportunity to be of service to their fellow man. All of Bermuda ought to be proud of the efforts of our soldiers on this deployment, as I am.”
You can read the Minister’s full remarks below.
