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As a part of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force purpose to provide disaster relief aid

28th of April 2021

Bahamas: As a part of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force purpose to provide disaster relief aid, auxiliary craft Her Majesty’s Bahamian Ship LAWRENCE MAJOR withdrew the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to serve in delivering relief pieces of equipment to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

They are proceeding to cope with the exploding of the La Soufriere volcano. The assistance of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force is making a difference in the lives of the people who are adversely affected due to relocation. Every sister island is helping them, but some people don’t want to leave St Vincent despite the volcano eruption.

HMBS LAWRENCE MAJOR, which left on Saturday, April 17, 2021, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Omarv Saunders, moved to Kingston, Jamaica, to support with the transport of more than $20 million worth of stocks for St. Vincent and the Grenadines as part of Jamaica’s disaster relief assistance.

The coordinated effort of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management in Jamaica was apparent; however, the challenge arose when it came to shipping. The Jamaica Defence Force reached out and secured the assistance of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to bridge this gap, which acknowledged favourably in the spirit of ‘Caribbean unity’.

According to Lieutenant Commander Saunders, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force is always combat-ready to assist partnering nations when called upon. It was not so long ago that the Jamaica Defence Force and the Government of Jamaica accommodated The Bahamas following the passage of Hurricane Dorian. Hence, the organization is gratified to assist in delivering the much-needed pieces of equipment.

Upon accomplishing this mission, HMBS LAWRENCE MAJOR proceeded to Surinam, South America, to begin dry docking and repairs. This exercise also includes the replacement of both its dynamos, which have constantly been operating since the vessel has been in maintenance due to the lack of shore power supply.

This latest humanitarian deployment by HMBS LAWRENCE MAJOR accompanies the relief mission to support the hurricane-ravaged island of Dominica in 2017.