Local businessman Craig Flowers yesterday donated $100,000 to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on behalf of his companies to assist in recovery efforts in Inagua following Hurricane Ike, which impacted the island more than a week ago.

Flowers, who heads FML Group of Companies, made the presentation at NEMA's office at the Churchill Building in downtown Nassau.

FML owns various companies, including security firms, and local web shops.

"The CEO (Flowers) contacted me and indicated that his staff and members wanted to donate some funds and they did that," said Commander Stephen Russell, NEMA's director. "I got directives that I was allowed to receive the funds because the staff had a desire to make a contribution. Citizens of The Bahamas, regional friends of The Bahamas or international friends who have a desire to make a donation to the disaster relief effort, we welcome the funds, cash, food or building material."

According to Flowers, after speaking with Commander Russell about the needs of the Inagua residents, FML staff and members decided that they wanted to assist by donating funds for food and building supplies.

Commander Russell said the funds will go a long way in assisting the residents of Inagua as they try to bring some normalcy to that island.

Already, NEMA has received $100,000 worth of building supplies, which were donated last week by a group of companies, including The Paint Center, FYP, and Tile King at Builders Mall. Among the items donated were plywood, roofing felt, shingles, nails, hammers and saws.

"At this time we are getting reports from our assessment team on the ground that some 230 homes have been affected. We now go into our repair and reconstruction phase, so definitely the funds are timely. We now seek to procure some additional building material and get them down to the island as quickly as possible," Commander Russell said.

He added that a team of volunteers was in Mathew Town, Inagua, assisting with rebuilding efforts.

"We are working with a 10-day window and Wednesday is our tenth day, so we have a barge going to Inagua Tuesday afternoon which will [deliver] our large shipment of building supplies," Commander Russell said.

Providing an update on restoration efforts in Grand Bahama, Commander Russell said the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) has advised NEMA that some power would have been restored by yesterday evening. In addition, the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) had completed about 50 percent of restoration of land line phones and cell phones were operational on the island.

He said BTC has indicated that its work will be completed by October 6 and BEC's work may be completed by the end of September.

In terms of the water, Commander Russell noted that the water system is good. He said the aim is to have the island back to normal as early as possible so that residents will be able to enjoy their Christmas holiday.

By BIANCA SYMONETTE