US Charge d'Affaires pays a courtesy call on the Disaster Risk Management Authority

US Charge d'Affaires pays a courtesy call on the Disaster Risk Management Authority

US Charge d'Affaires Kimberly Furnish, and Minister of State Leon Lundy

NASSAU, The Bahamas -- United States Charge d'Affaires, Ms. Kimberly Furnish paid a courtesy call on the Disaster Risk Management Authority (DRM), October 7, 2024 as part of her official ministerial tours. She was accompanied by Senior Defence Attache, Commander Victor Lange; Political Economic Chief, Ericka Lewis and Public Affairs Officer, Suemayah Abu-Douleh.

Ms. Furnish and her team met with the Minister of State for the DRM, the Hon. Leon Lundy; Permanent Secretary, Dr. Marcellus Taylor; Managing Director, Aaron Sargent; Chairman, Alex Storr and Senior Advisor, Captain Stephen Russell.

During the visit, they discussed issues related to disaster preparedness and crisis management. They also discussed partnerships that currently exist between The Bahamas and the United States as it relates to disaster preparedness and capacity building, including collaborations with USAID, US Forestry Services and US Northern Command (NorthComUS).

Minister Lundy thanked the Charge and the team for their visit and said that the Government of The Bahamas was grateful for all of the assistance and partnerships in training provided by the US government over the years, in the area of disaster management.

"Given our geographical position and the realities we face with hurricanes and major storms, we welcome the assistance we have received in the face of storms and also in the form of training over the years," said the Minister.

Ms. Furnish said that the US Government would continue to partner and collaborate with The Bahamas to support and assist mutually. She said as a former Director of Crisis Management in Washington, D.C., she was very happy to collaborate and assist the Bahamian people; and that the US experiences various types of environmental issues also, and is grateful for support.

Members from both the government's side and United States side shared their thoughts on future collaboration and training opportunities.

United States Charge d'Affaires, Ms. Kimberly Furnish, paid a courtesy call on the Disaster Risk Management Authority (DRM) on Monday, October 7, 2024 as part of her official Ministerial tours. Pictured: L-R: Senior Advisor, DRM, Captain Stephen Russell; Political Economic Chief (US Embassy), Ericka Lewis; Senior Defence Attache, Commander Victor Lange; US Charge d'Affaires, Kimberly Furnish; Minister of State, DRM, Hon. Leon Lundy; Permanent Secretary, Dr. Marcellus Taylor; Chairman, DRM, Alex Storr and Managing Director, Aaron Sargent. Also in attendance but not pictured was Public Affairs Officer (US Embassy), Suemayah Abu-Douleh. (BIS Photos/Ulric Woodside).