By K. NANCOO-RUSSELL

Freeport News Reporter

krystal@nasguard.com

Local pilot Ricardo Laing returned to Grand Bahama on Friday after flying his plane full of medical supplies to earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

His trip was arranged by Bahamas Habitat, a United-States based Christian nonprofit organization, which has been delivering supplies and providing evacuation support for Haiti.

The organization, which operates a warehouse at the Nassau Airport where it stores the goods that people bring in, was looking for pilots to help transport those goods to Haiti.

"The Bahamas is a closer point to Haiti so they have a lot of volunteer pilots with airplanes who come and pick up the goods and deliver them to different airports in Haiti, not in Port-au-Prince because that airport is really overloaded," Laing told The Freeport News Sunday afternoon.

"It's very convenient, you pull up there and they just cart the goods out and this is stuff that was flown in from the United States or donated from persons and businesses in Nassau."

Laing volunteered his services and his plane. The fuel cost, which was approximately $2,500, was covered by Bahamas Habitat and Laing's church, the Grand Bahama Family Worship Centre.

Laing and a co-pilot, Brandon Lightbourne, were sent to Cape Haitien. They left Freeport on Thursday morning, and stopped in Nassau, where they removed the seats from the plane and loaded up. The plane was packed full to capacity with boxes of syringes, bandages, tablets, and other items.

"We stopped in George-town, Exuma where we experienced some mechanical difficulties, so we didn't get to leave until pretty late on Thursday and when we got down there we experienced more mechanical difficulties, so we had to spend the night in Cap-Haitien," he said.

"We left the goods in the airplane that night. When I called the people in Nassau they were really concerned about our safety, because it was the first time that any of the planes had to spend the night, but I felt safe. I'm familiar with the area and the police officer took us to the hotel where we were able to get a room and get food. We were even able to go online because they had Internet access."

The part he needed to repair the plane was flown in the next morning.

"Somebody put a part on Sky Bahamas from Freeport and then they put it on a plane from Nassau to Cap-Haitien and by 11:00 a.m. on Friday I had the part, and by 2 o'clock we were on our way home."

All-in-all, Laing said it was a successful trip. The goods were delivered to a Methodist priest who took them to a hospital. They have a lot of airplanes coming in, Laing added, noting that on Friday alone the priest had three planes deliver supplies to him.

Because of the earthquake hitting Port-au-Prince, several hospitals were damaged and authorities are sending patients to the outlying communities, which are in need of supplies that they really do not have.

"They get the goods that we delivered within two to three hours after it gets there so I am happy to know that the stuff is getting there as quickly as possible and doesn't have to go through too much red tape."

Laing said he intends to make another trip to Haiti this week, and hopes this time to deliver much-needed food and water. His plane can transport between 1,000 and 1,200 pounds.

Persons interested in contributing to the fuel costs, or in sending collected items should contact the Grand Bahama Family Worship Centre at 352-5055.