Local taxi drivers joined together to donate funds to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist with restoration in the family islands that were affected by last year’s Hurricane Joaquin.

It has been three months since the calamitous category four hurricane swept across the Central and South-East Bahamas and taxi drivers in New Providence said they still have the urge to give back to those whose lives have been toppled and whose incomes have been destroyed.

On Wednesday morning, Captain Stephen Russell accepted the check from NEMA and the government.

Captain Russell called the donation “timely” as he announced major efforts are being made for the reconstruction of homes and rebuilding of islands are in the near future and every dollar counts.

“We have a number of homes to rebuild,” Captain Russell said.

“Repairs are to be continued on the islands impacted. This donation is extremely timely as we continue our efforts to repair the islands. Next month we are set to go full force with the reconstruction programme in those islands that were impacted. We appreciate the taxi drivers and look forward to their continuous support. We are trying to make sure that we can withstand any storm that passes through the Bahamas and we could use the assistance.”

Stefano Wilkinson presented the check of a little over $1,000 on behalf of the cab drivers.

He deemed it a privilege to assist fellow Bahamians during this tough time.

“We wanted to present this check to NEMA,” he said.

“It’s a small token of donation that we want to give just to assist those as they are going through this rough patch.
Hurricane Joaquin tore apart the islands of Long Island, Cat Island, Mayaguana, Rum Cay, and San Salvador just to name a few.

Over 800 homes were destroyed during the hurricane.

Thousands were negatively impacted.