Nassau, September 12 (RHC)– Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis says a national day of mourning must be held to properly mourn those who died as a result of Hurricane Dorian.

The count is now at least 50, with 2.500 people listed as missing.

Prime minister Minnins visited Grand Bahama, where he held a press briefing and was updated by all of the relevant agencies on Grand Bahama as they continued the relief effort on the island, which was hard-hit by Category 5 Hurricane Dorian, as it passed through Abaco and Grand Bahama on September 1.

“I will be making a national address, during which time I will ask for a National Day of mourning and for flags to be flown at half-mast in honor of those individuals who have died during this devastation,” said Prime Minister Minnis.

He extended condolences to those individuals who have lost loved ones in the storm –the strongest hurricane ever registered in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Prime Minister acknowledged nobody could have predicted exactly what kind of devastation Hurricane Dorian would have left behind once it passed over the islands: “But what I can say is that the entire international community is with us. “They have been assisting us from day one. They have made commitments that they will assist us in rebuilding our country.”

He noted that the entire CARICOM community also reached out and offered assistance in the form of monetary assistance, man-power and advice.

It’s worth noting that on Wednesday Cuba sent the first shipment of humanitarian aid to the Bahamas onboard a Cubana airliner.

Raciel Proenza, deputy director general of Economic Collaboration of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment (Mincex), informed that in the coming days, a Cuban vessel with additional supplies will arrive in the Bahamas.

Besides the humanitarian aid, Cuba has offered also to sent a contingent of its Henry Reeve international brigade of health professionals specialized in disaster situations and serious epidemics. The Cuban medical contingent is ready to leave, as soon as the ongoing coordination with the Bahamian authorities is completed.

Cuba also offered to send workers from the Electric Union to help restore electrical lines in The Bahamas, and a brigade equipped with chainsaws for the clearing of fallen trees across paths and roads.