The Chinese government has donated seventy thousand dollars to the DisasterReconstruction Authority (DRA) to support the ongoing construction of a hurricane shelter and community center on Abaco.

Chinese Ambassador to The Bahamas, H.E. Dai Qingli, representing theChinese Government, made the contribution, which was received on behalfof the DRA by The Hon. Myles K. Laroda, who has ministerial oversight of theDRA, and DRA board chair, H. Alexander Storr.

Ambassador Dia, who made the donation after receiving a tour of theshelter project and storm-damaged areas of the island led by MinisterLaRoda and members of the DRA's executive team, expressed her country'sreason for lending support, "We fully sympathize with the sufferings anddifficulties faced by the Abaconian people... It's really good for me to beactually on the ground and to see Abaco as it is... years after HurricaneDorian. I could still see the remnants of the devastation. So, I couldn'timagine how [it was] on September 1. I also visited a settlement, one of thecays, and they described to me how they had to go without electricity for afull week and in total fear and deprivation at that time."

This new donation is the second show of support for the shelter projectoffered by the Chinese government. The country donated forty-onethousand dollars toward the effort earlier in the year.

"I'm also really pleased with what I saw as the important progress that hasbeen made in the reconstruction after Hurricane Dorian, said AmbassadorDai, "And I could say, I see The Bahamas government and Minister MylesLaRoda, as the Minister responsible for disaster reconstruction...they arereally working so hard to help the local people. So, we are very pleased and honoured to extend a hand of friendship to the people of Abaco and to assistthem in their reconstruction efforts."

Following the brief donation ceremony held at The Office of The PrimeMinister in Abaco, Minister LaRoda and DRA Board Chair Storr conveyedtheir gratitude to the Chinese Government for the generous contribution. "Iwould like to thank Ambassador Dai and her country for another gift to theBahamas, said LaRoda, "China has demonstrated benevolence in the pastand continues to do so. This is another contribution towards deferring thecost of the shelter/community center in Abaco."

The DRA is spearheading the Abaco hurricane shelter and communitybuilding project, and it is on track to be completed by the end of 2024.

For further information and media inquiries, please contact:
Vincent Williams, Communications ManagerDisaster Reconstruction Authority (DRA)Phone: 1 (242) 818-2289Email: vincent.williams@dra.gov.bs

About the Disaster Reconstruction Authority (DRA):
The Disaster Reconstruction Authority (DRA) is responsible for the management ofreconstruction and restoration in areas designated as disaster zones. The DRA Actwas enacted by the Parliament of The Bahamas in 2019 in response to thewidespread devastation of Hurricane Dorian in the Northern Bahamas. HurricaneDorian was a Category 5 hurricane and the strongest cyclone to hit The Bahamas.The DRA is a corporate body that works collaboratively with national andinternational agencies in support of disaster recovery. The DRA is committed tomaximizing recovery, reconstruction, and resilience outcomes with a mission ofbuilding a more resilient Bahamas.