The Government of the People of The Bahamas wishes to express appreciation for the numerous offers of assistance being received in the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd.

As announced yesterday, the Minister of Finance has waived all customs and stamp tax on the importation of drinking water to those Family Islands seriously affected by Hurricane Floyd.

It is to be recalled that Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, Ragged Island and Cays, Cat Island and Andros have been declared customs duty and stamp tax free for the purpose of the importation of construction materials for the rehabilitation, remodeling, or extension of new or existing buildings under the Family Island Development Act.

Inagua, San Salvador, Long Island and Exuma and Cays have been declared customs duty free under the Act for the importation of construction materials for the same purpose.

Further, so as to facilitate the entry of relief goods and to ensure that the maximum benefit of donations reach those residents most seriously affected by the hurricane, the Minister of Finance will also approve the waiver of stamp and customs duty on the importation of approved relief materials consigned to the most seriously affected Family Islands of Abaco, Eleuthera and Cays, Harbour Island and Spanish Wells, Cat Island and San Salvador, the latter of which only qualified for customs duty exemption under the Family Island Development Act.

All requests for waivers of customs and stamp tax on hurricane relief materials for the islands of Abaco, Eleuthera and Cays, Harbour Island and Spanish Wells, and for stamp tax relief in San Salvador must be made in writing to the Hurricane Floyd Relief Committee at Fax Number (242) 327-5807 and must be approved for importation in advance.
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Hurricane Relief/Page Two

More detailed information now available on damage caused by the storm in the various island communities indicates that the items most in need in the affected Family Island communities are as follows:

Potable drinking water
All canned foods and juices
Non-perishable dry foods (rice, flour, grits)
Generators
Chain saws
Construction materials:
- Material required for roof repairs (sheet rock, plywood, shingles, roof felting, facia boards, lumber (2x4, 2x6), roof nails, tacks, hurricane clips and wiring)
- tarpaulin and visequeen (heavy plastic sheeting)
- furniture, particularly bedding

Cash donations to the relief effort in The Bahamas may be made directly to The Bahamas National Disaster Relief Fund at the Royal Bank of Canada. In the United States of America, cash donations to the relief effort may be made to The Bahamas Hurricane Relief Fund at First Union Bank in Miami, Florida, 200 South Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida 33131. Account No. 209-000-198-2950 or Bahamas Hurricane Relief Fund at Riggs National Bank, Dupont Circle, 1913 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20036 Account No. 178-006-75. All cash donations will be acknowledged, so you are asked to include and address to which a receipt can be sent.

17 September, 1999.

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