Hugh Campbell Primary Students Photo Credit: THE GOVERNMENT OF THE BAHAMAS
FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. made a donation of $50,000 worth of supplies and equipment to Hugh Campbell Primary School to assist with repair of extensive damage caused by recent Hurricane Dorian, the government of The Bahamas has made known.
Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd accepted the donation on behalf of the school on January 31. Representing Royal Caribbean was Vice-President of Government Relations/Americas Russell Benford.
As Royal Caribbean celebrates its 50th anniversary, Mr. Lloyd stated the company has been a partner of The Bahamas for many years: “Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines is today continuing its great gift of generosity to our school and to our country. When we were born as a nation, you came into being as a company – 50 years ago – so we have grown together. As you’ve indicated, we have been more than just partners, we are the deepest of friends, and you and your company have demonstrated that in a most profound and significant way.
“The winds had not yet subsided when your boats were offshore. Prepping, preparing and serving food, the most vital resource in that time of desperate need for our people. Not only that sir, you also, through your very considerable resources, built a kitchen so that that feeding could continue," he said.
While the country is a resilient one, said the minister, “we would be nothing without friends like Royal Caribbean.”
Over 700 pieces of equipment and supplies were a part of the donation, including 234 student desks, 88 Billy bookcases, 60 teachers’ desks, 59 swivel chairs for teachers’ desks and 18 TVs (32-inch).
Mr. Benford, in making the donation on behalf of the company, said, “It is with great pleasure that I present to the Ministry of Education and the students, educators and administrators of Hugh Campbell Primary School this gift of furniture and equipment that we at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. hope will help all of you who were so greatly impacted by Hurricane Dorian return to a greater sense of normalcy.”
Royal Caribbean provided some 400,000 meals in Grand Bahama following the storm, along with millions of dollars in supplies, equipment, canned goods, clothing, bedding linens, school books, lumber and other provisions totaling more than $4.6 million.
Mr. Benford said, “For five decades The Bahamas has been far more than a destination. You have been our neighbor and our friend. We remain committed to the revitalization of tourism in Grand Bahama, and right now we are laser-focused on finalizing the agreement to purchase Grand Lucayan.
“We hope, as I am sure many of you do, to bring it to a close as soon as possible.”
