Kerzner International Donates $1-Million

[Bahamas Information Service 09/20/2004]

Kerzner International owners of Atlantis at Paradise Island have donated $1 million to the country's Hurricane Relief Fund. Kerzner executive "Butch" Kerzner has also committed the company to a $250,000 study of hurricane impact in the Bahamas, which he said would help Atlantis and the Bahamas generally better prepare for the likelihood of hurricanes in the future. Mr. Kerzner made his presentation Sunday afternoon 19th September as he left the country on business. Minister of State for Finance and Chairman of the Hurricane Relief Fund, the Honourable James Smith accepted on behalf of the Government as Prime Minister Perry Christie looked on. Mr. Kerzner noted that Atlantis is making a tremendous effort to get the word out internationally that the destination (Nassau/Paradise Island) is open for business "The Bahamas has been very good for us," said Mr. Kerzner, "and we want to continue as good corporate citizens with this donation to be used all over The Bahamas where there was hurricane damage." Mr. Kerzner said he sympathised with all those affected by the hurricane in The Bahamas.

The donation from Kerzner International is the largest to date to the Fund and was welcomed by the Mr. Christie. "Obviously, Kerzner International is pre-eminent in the tourist sector of The Bahamas, and this contribution sets a fine example of partnership in our efforts to recover from the effects of Hurricane Frances." In speaking about the progress of the hurricane relief effort, the Prime Minister noted that all supplies necessary for the recovery and restoration of hurricane damage in the island of San Salvador are "now under lock and key at San Salvador, waiting only for the "all-clear" from tropical storm / hurricane Jeanne for work to begin." Prime Minister Christie is expected to communicate formally on Hurricane Frances when the House of Assembly returns to work later this week.

[Bahamas Information Service 09/29/2004] NASSAU, The Bahamas--- Eight Clearing Banks Monday presented cheques totaling $650,000 to The Bahamas Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund. The cheques were presented to Sen. the Hon. James H. Smith, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and co-chairman of the Disaster relief and Recovery Fund, at the Office of the Prime Minister, Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre, Cable Beach, by representatives of the Clearing Banks.

The banks involved were British American Bank, Bank of The Bahamas International, Citigroup, Commonwealth Bank, First Caribbean International Bank, RBC Royal Bank of Canada and RBC Finco, and Scotiabank. The donation is part of the more than $1 million committed by The Bahamas" financial services industry to assist with hurricane relief efforts.The banks contributions are British American Bank, $25,000; Bank of The Bahamas International, $100,000; Citigroup, $25,000; Commonwealth Bank, $100,000; First Caribbean International Bank, $150,000; RBC Royal Bank of Canada, $100,000 and RBC Finco, $50,000; and Scotiabank, $100,000. In addition to their cash contributions, each of the Clearing Banks are providing assistance to clients in other ways, including deferment of loan and credit card payments for specified periods, and special loan terms for qualified applicants.

According to Mr. Ross McDonald, senior vice president, RBC Bahamas and Caribbean and chairman of The Clearing Banks Association, the impact of the recent storms has created an enormous challenge for many of their employees and customers. "We are all committed to helping with the restoration of our community and deem it a privilege to help in whatever way we can," Mr. McDonald said.Minister Smith thanked the Clearing Banks for the donation, the highest received in the Fund since its activation following Hurricane Frances.

"I should also point out that the enormity of the damage to The Bahamas, particularly in the Northern Bahamas, has now been increased with the passage of Hurricane Jeanne, so these funds are more in need. "I would also like to point out to the rest of the country that we are experiencing and we"re seeing a very responsible corporate response to this disaster, and we know that the financial services industry has always come to the rescue of The Bahamas in time of need, and they do yet once again," Minister Smith said.

He hoped that the "enormous contribution" by the Clearing Banks go a long way to deal with some of the stress and adverse conditions the Bahamian people have suffered as a result of Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. Members of the public can also make donations to The Bahamas Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund through appropriate accounts available at any branch of the Clearing Banks.