 Coming to you from our GIS Studios, I am Anicia Antoine and this is your Mayday News Brief. St. Lucia's Prime Minister and Chairman of the Caribbean Community, Honourable Allen Chastney, has expressed solidarity with the government and the people of the Bahamas following the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian. Grand Bahama Island and the Baku Islands felt more than the brunt of Dorian which landed as a Category 5. The islands remained stationary over the islands from September 1st to September 3rd, thousands of homes and buildings have been destroyed. As of Monday, September 9th, at least 44 deaths have officially been confirmed in what Prime Minister Honourable Hubert Minnes has described as a historic tragedy. Prime Minister Honourable Allen Chastney says that this time, Karakom stands ready to give whatever assistance is required to deal with the effects of this tragedy. Prime Minister Chastney informed that in advance of Hurricane Dorian, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, Stedema took the lead to coordinate the original response mechanism and deployed two rapid needs assessment teams to the Bahamas. The teams have since informed that the immediate needs of the island are water and water pumps. The government of St. Lucia thanks persons who have expressed interest in this humanitarian trust and encourages everyone to make their cash donation at the following accounts in the name of the government of St. Lucia. A delegation from the University Hospital of Mardsnake recently paid a visit to the Owen King EU Hospital to provide their feedback and technical expertise on the transition from the Victoria Hospital to the Millennium Heights Medical Complex. Permanent Secretary in the Department of Health and Wellness, Felix St. Hill explained that the team provided support in all facets of the transitioning including medical, clinical, organizational and technical. St. Hill noted that Mardsnake recently went through a transitioning themselves to the University Hospital where they had some enlargement of their facilities and their own services. The Department of Health and Wellness wants to assure the general public that transitioning plans for the new hospital are progressing smoothly and that it is committed to providing quality healthcare services. In preparation for the new school year, a delegation from the OACS Commission visited the Deir Barra Combined School in Barbano to deliver school bags and school supplies. The relationship between Deir Barra School and the OACS was established approximately ten years ago. Josette Edward Shalman, Program Officer in the Environmental Sustainability Cluster and Ms. Sally Ann Alfred, Paralegal Officer in the Legal Unit continue to work with the staff of the OACS Commission to coordinate recurring donations to support the students. This has been your media news brief. Thank you for watching.