CORPORATE society has stepped up a notch higher in its support for persons battered by hurricanes Irma and Maria as some $14 million has been donated towards a benefit concert to further assist the victims.

Several businesses on Friday made the presentations to Minister of State Joseph Harmon during a simple ceremony at the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) to assist in a concert billed for November 11 at Durban Park, Georgetown.

They include Agri Parts, Farm Supplies, Guy Track and Sean Hopkinson, who donated $2 million each while JCB donated $2.1 million.

Another company from Essequibo plugged $100,000. This added to funds already received on Thursday has brought the figure to $14 million.

The event was launched on Thursday and is being sponsored by CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque and Minister of State Joseph Harmon.

Speaking at the simple handing over ceremony on Friday, Minister Harmon said government remains committed to assisting victims through this phase of rebuilding.

He said many persons have lost almost everything they owned in the hurricanes and are now grappling to start afresh.

“We want to ensure that all of the Caribbean understand that Guyana is putting its best foot forward to ensure that those persons who are affected by the hurricanes that they can rebuild their lives,” Minister Harmon told the small gathering.

He said Guyana has done an “excellent job” in the first phase of getting emergency supplies and relief to those persons and for those who wanted to return home to be given the opportunity.

“Now it is the rebuilding effort and I am sure that our businesses here in Guyana would want to also benefit from that,” minster Harmon said. He is encouraging members of the public to continue to make their contributions “no matter how small it is” as it will be going towards a worthy cause.

The concert which begins at 18:00 hrs on November 11 will see appearances by Trinidad and Tobago singers Patrice Roberts and Orlando Octave along with a number of local and regional performers. Patrons will be asked to contribute $1000.

Hurricanes Irma and Maria last month wreaked havoc in some Caribbean islands. Hurricane Irma devastated Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Turks and Caicos and Anguilla, as well as St Maarten and St Barts. The islands of Barbuda and Tortola were also left in ruins. Irma also caused significant damage in the Bahamas and Haiti and affected St Kitts and Nevis.

The hurricane resulted in 10 deaths within the CARICOM member states and associate members as well as a preliminary estimate of some U.S. $2 billion in losses.

Less than a few days later Hurricane Maria struck, leaving a streak of massive destruction in Dominica. That devastation was said to be unparalleled. It accounted for 27 deaths, and more than 13 persons missing, with 95 per cent of the country’s buildings and infrastructure damaged in varying degrees.

According to the United Nation Development Fund (UNDP), governments in several Caribbean countries have begun rebuilding infrastructures, houses and communities with UNDP’s on the ground support after Hurricane Irma left catastrophic damage.

Barbuda kicked off debris removal efforts with technical support from UNDP to build back as part of a UN-wide humanitarian-development strategy.

UNDP’s expertise includes dealing with hazardous medical waste, as well as environmental aspects, such as recycling and landfill management. Cash-for-work initiatives are to begin shortly to immediately inject needed cash in affected communities.

Over 90 per cent of buildings were destroyed, including all government premises.

Barbudians are temporarily living in neighbouring Antigua until they can resume their lives back in Barbuda.

In Cuba, as part of the national recovery plan with the government, UNDP is supporting the recovery of over 215,000 houses severely damaged by Hurricane Irma. The UN-wide recovery plan was presented this week in Havana.

“Hurricane Irma’s impact in Cuba was huge, for several reasons,” explained UNDP Resident Representative in Cuba Denise Cook in an interview with UN News.

“Not only was it very powerful but it also hit the entire country for a long time, around three days. Thirteen of its 15 provinces, particularly in the north, for which tourism is very important, were hit particularly hard.”

Hundreds of thousands of houses were severely damaged. Some collapsed, others lost their roofs. This caused nearly two million people to be evacuated, spending three long days in a situation of ‘alarm’, according to Cook. She explained that thousands of people were evacuated but unfortunately 10 passed away, which is a very high number for Cuba, considering its vast experience in hurricane preparedness.