Bahamas Environmental Contractors Industries, a local environmental contracting company, made a donation yesterday to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist ongoing hurricane relief efforts throughout the Family Islands.
The company donated nearly 30 tarps and a number of poly sheets to be used as roof covering, and duct tape.
Dr. Barry Izzard, Bahamas Environmental Contractors Industries vice president, met with NEMA director Captain Stephen Russell near the Nassau Beach Hotel yesterday to announce the donation.  Dr. Izzard said the combined donations in supplies, which value $5,000, would help those who have been affected by Hurricane Irene, particularly in Cat Island and Acklins.
Dr. Izzard added that the heavy rainfall last weekend slowed building efforts on several islands.
"When that rain started on Thursday, we got cries from every sector of The Bahamas where they saw water coming into those areas that were exposed," he said.
Russell recently confirmed that his agency has so far received $528,000 in cash donations, not including grants.  Some of the money has already been distributed to several islands.
Russell said yesterday that 2,700 homes were impacted in some way by the storm.
"This storm has affected the entire archipelago of The Bahamas from Mayaguana in the south all the way up to Grand Cay in the north," he said.
Yesterday's donation by Bahamas Environmental Contractors Industries is expected to reach Cat Island by the end of this week and the donation of supplies made by the company earlier this week is already being transported to the island, according to Russell.

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