Pictured walking l-r: Minister of Tourism and MP for West Grand Bahama and Bimini the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, Prime Minister Christie, Prime Minister Skerrit, and Ambassador Irwin La Rocque, Secretary-General of CARICOM. (BIS Photos/Vandyke Hepburn)

The Rt. Hon Perry Christie, Prime Minister, is facilitating the Prime Minister of Dominica the Hon Roosevelt Skerrit on a tour of Hurricane Matthew-ravaged areas in Andros and Grand Bahama.

Prime Minister Christie is accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon Fred Mitchell, the Hon Shane Gibson, the Minister of Labour and National Insurance and the National Hurricane Coordinator; The Hon Picewell Forbes, Bahamas High Commissioner to CARICOM, Captain Stephen Russell, Director of NEMA, other Cabinet Ministers, officials and members of the media.

Prime Minister Skerrit is accompanied by Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque and advisors, Joann Persad from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, CDEMA, and other officials.

The delegation left on board a Bahamasair flight Wednesday, October 12, 2016.

The purpose of the visit is for the CARICOM delegation to get a first hand view of the damage to infrastructure, how many people are displaced and inspect critical facilities with a view to what kind of assistance Dominica and CARICOM at large, can give to The Bahamas.

The Rt Hon Perry Christie, Prime Minister  is facilitating the Prime Minister of Dominica the Hon Roosevelt Skerrit on a tour of Hurricane Matthew-ravaged areas in Andros and Grand Bahama. Pictured in West End on Wednesday, October 12 are Prime Minister Skerrit, Ambassador LaRocque, Director of NEMA Captain Stephen Russell and other officials. (PHOTO NEMA/In WEST END)

The delegation is touring Eight Mile Rock, Holmes Rock areas where 95 percent of the buildings received significant damage from the Category 4 storm packing winds of more than 140mph.

West End also experienced significant flooding which soaked furniture, beddings and appliances and rendering residents homes unlivable in the aftermath of the storm.

In North Andros, particularly Lowe Sound, about 35 homes were completely destroyed; 40 received major damages and 100 received minor damages. Lowe Sound has a population of just about 700.

The delegation returns to the capital later today, Wednesday.

Source: Bahamas Information Services