As part of its ongoing effort to bring relief to the southern islands devastated by Hurricane Joaquin, Prime Minister Perry Christie announced yesterday that the government expects several self-sustained containers to land on Crooked Island within 48 hours.

The government has purchased a total of 17 containers. These containers can generate electricity of an "enormous nature", produce water through desalination and store large quantities of food, according to Christie. He said the containers also have a mini hospital and accommodations for the defense force officers who will be stationed on the islands to oversee the delivery and distribution of supplies.

"We have loaded those containers now on roll-on/roll-off craft and they have set sail for Crooked Island, which is a badly devastated point," Christie said during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister.

"Because there is no dock left work is being done in a place [NEMA Director] Captain Stephen Russell has identified with defense force officers as suitable for the landing craft to put its cargo in the area on Landrail Point, which has sustained extraordinary damage.

"We expect therefore to have in the next 48 hours, operational, this little city or little camp with the capacity to meet the needs of Crooked Island, in so far as the people on the island are concerned. That is in terms of food, they are capable of preparing hundreds of meals per day, water, thousands of gallons per day that they are able to produce."

Christie also announced that the government has assembled a reconstruction team headed by former Director of Works Melanie Roach.

"This team will be working in furtherance of the work of NEMA, specifically to the element of restorations; being able in the shortest possible time to restore as near to normalcy as possible both infra structurally and from the point of view for personal damaged experienced by persons," Christie said.

Christie noted that people from the financial sector have agreed and stepped forward to lead fundraising efforts. He added that all donations will be properly accounted for and audited. The prime minister will provide a comprehensive assessment status report to the nation today on where the government is with respect to its restoration efforts and its plans moving forward.

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