By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday that he never intended to undermine the efforts of volunteers and private groups engaging in hurricane relief when he urged Bahamians to donate to the Red Cross and its verified partners.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Dr Minnis noted that relief drives, other than those organised by government agencies or disaster relief non-profits, may become “counter productive and cause confusion.”

He was strongly criticised for his statement, however, with some users on Facebook saying his comments were “inappropriate” and “insulting.”

During a press conference yesterday, however, Dr Minnis said it was not his intention to undermine the work of groups involved in providing storm relief.

“During my national appeal for donations I encouraged persons to channel donations through the Red Cross and other verified organisations,” Dr Minnis said. “Since making that statement, I have observed from social media that a number of persons have taken exception to my call as it was interpreted that I intended to exclude certain organisations from contributing to relief efforts who have a tradition of helping during such disasters. That was never my intention and I sincerely regret that my appeal was interpreted as such or that my communication gave such an impression.

“We know, however, from past experiences that some persons use such incidents to fraudulently prey on the public for their own benefit and in so doing tarnish our well-meaning efforts. Nonetheless, I, of course, welcome and encourage all organisations to do their part whether through churches, civic groups, social organisations, local or international relief agencies, private or governmental.”

There was strong reaction to Dr Minnis’ post on Facebook, with his critics saying that government agencies have been slow to engage in relief efforts compared to volunteers.

On Facebook, one person said: “Telling persons not to acknowledge the grassroots efforts is very inappropriate.”

Another person said: “…It angers me that the work of private companies and private pilots, over 300 volunteers, delivering nearly 50,000lbs of supplies, assisting in evacuating almost 20 per cent of the population of Crooked Island alone (and the sick and elderly from other islands) and assisting the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the police by transporting personnel, is being ‘messaged’ as a distraction and counter productive, while Cabinet ministers use our resources too.”

“Dr Minnis you have got to be kidding, if it were not for concerned citizens taking matters into their own hands the people in Long Island would still be waiting on relief,” another angry Facebook user said.

At his press conference yesterday, Dr Minnis also thanked Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner for her work helping those affected by Hurricane Joaquin.

The southern part of Long Island in particular has been hard hit by the storm.

While Dr Minnis visited the southern Bahamas over the weekend as part of a delegation that included Prime Minister Perry Christie, Mrs Butler-Turner partnered with Trans Island Airways to spur relief efforts on her own.

Dr Minnis’ comments yesterday were the first time since the storm passed that he publicly acknowledged her work.

It comes amid speculation that “politics” has played a role in the diverging responses the two have had in the aftermath of the storm.