By LISA S. KING

Freeport News Reporter

lisa@nasguard.com

Members of the Action Bahamas Committee for Hurricane Wilma are gearing up to produce a national telethon this Friday that will showcase footage of the devastating effects of the storm as a means of appealing to the local community and the nation to give.

The telethon, which will be held on ZNS TV 13 from 8 p.m. to midnight, will involve the convenient access of telephone banks whereby people in Grand Bahama and around the entire Bahamas can donate much needed funds that will aid the many hurricane victims in Grand Bahama who have been displaced.

In a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday, Committee Chairman Franklyn Wilson said the group has decided to reconstitute itself to come to the aid of residents affected by Wilma on an expanded basis, mainly because charity should begin at home.

Fund-raising efforts by the committee were brought to the forefront several weeks ago when they made a national declaration to support and raise funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina in the United States.

Mr. Wilson said members of the committee thought they were coming to the island on a fact-finding mission; however, they were not prepared for what they saw. In light of the immense devastation observed, he said the main task of the committee now is to increase sensitivity in the minds of all Bahamians throughout the country, so that everyone will know how serious and wide-spread the damages are.

"The idea is, we want people anywhere and everywhere throughout the country to be able to contribute," Mr. Wilson said. "They don't need to wait.

This is a case of action now. We want the process to be easy so that people can also phone in to a local number and actually pass by the site to give real contributions. This is all in the theme of making it convenient for everyone to give."

Appealing to the business community of Grand Bahama, Mr. Wilson said the whole exercise was not just about money, but about rebuilding lives.

"Part of the reason behind the telethon is that footage will be shown live to the country," he said. The idea is, the more people across the country can see people of Grand Bahama in those areas not affected contributing, it will be inspiring and motivational to them. So please Grand Bahama business people, call in yes, but go as well and take some cheques to the place where the telethon is being held so that they can get more footage to show people around the country that other Bahamians are in fact helping."

The Action Bahamas Committee for Hurricane Wilma Relief is comprised of several organisers and various co-chairs and major sponsors. They include: Alfred Jarrett, chairman of the Bank of The Bahamas; Algernon Allen, former Minister of Social Services; Bishop Neil Ellis of Mt. Tabor; Wendell Jones, CEO of Jones Communications; Brian Moree, senior partner with McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes; the Grand Bahama Port Authority; Freddie Munnings Jr., Bahamas Festivals; and Cleola Hamilton, vice president of the Trade Union Congress.

Mr. Wilson revealed that in addition to the telethon, the committee is also planning — with the assistance of the Bahamas Musicians and Entertainers Union — the biggest and best concert or cultural extravaganza that the country has ever seen to help raise funds.

"My brothers and sisters in Grand Bahama, we want you to know that there are people outside of Grand Bahama who care," he said. "To the people outside of Grand Bahama, we want you to appreciate that something serious has happened and we call upon you to do something meaningful."

Recalling the extensive damages incurred at the St. Vincent de Paul School, the committee chairman said calls were made immediately to Paul McWeeney, chairman of the board of St. Augustine's College in New Providence, who wasted no time in discussing with the organisers and priest of that school on ways to provide much needed supplies. Mr. Wilson said with the official adoption of St. Vincent de Paul School by St. Augustine's College, it is hoped that the school will get back to normalcy in record time.

Former Social Services Minister Algernon Allen said upon viewing the damage to the south west shore of Grand Bahama, his heart bled for the people. He added that it made the committee resolved in their endeavours to tackle the enormous task of providing relief to the victims.

"These times are causing Bahamians to care about each other, to feel the pain, to care and to share, and so we are now appealing to all citizens of this country to care and share what they have," Mr. Allen said. "It is simply an obligation to do so. We will gather vast resources and we will have immediate impact, and if we have to do it by circumventing what some may consider the structured position now, then we will do that because at the end of day it will be worth it all.

"If we can give our rich neighbours to the north about $150,000, then we should be able to look at $10 million dollars for Grand Bahama where we are able to give about 100 times more."

Bank of The Bahamas Chairman Alfred Jarrett said his organisation is prepared to assist anybody who has problems in trying to meet their obligation to the bank such as loans, and to provide them with something to bring them through the difficult period.

"Once the entire Bahamian public would have seen the devastation, I can't imagine any Bahamian who won't make a contribution to this particular cause," Mr. Jarrett said. "I believe that this country has been good to all of us and it is not about donor fatigue; it is about feeling and caring for others."

Cleola Hamilton of the Trade Union of Congress said based on the great need of people in Grand Bahama, she believes all trade unions within the country should contribute and do their part to give funds to help hurricane victims to rebuild their land.

"I ask the Bahamian people if it is a dollar or two, during the telethon on Friday, please give, and give with a good heart with the intention to receive because the Bible says when you give, you shall receive," Ms. Hamilton said.