Christmas donation for Dominica from Norway sailors

A group of Norwegian sailors have raised US$5,000 to support hurricane-hit Dominica just in time for Christmas.

The island was ravaged by Hurricane Maria on 18 September, killing over 30 and leaving millions of dollars of infrastructural damage.

The United Nations estimated that more than 23,000 houses in Dominica were damaged or destroyed, out of a total of just over 26,000 homes.

On a recent visit to survey of the island HRH Prince Charles said the damage “looked like Armageddon had struck.”

The sailors from Oslo invited other sailing enthusiasts to an evening of Caribbean entertainment and talks, with topics ranging from sailing in the Caribbean, tropical hurricanes and the effects of climate change.

Experienced sailor Tuva Løkse spoke of her experiences sailing the Caribbean sea and her urge to give back to Dominica: “A number of Norwegian sailors have over the years enjoyed sailing in the Caribbean sea, visiting many of the wonderful Windward Islands.

“Some of us especially fell in love with the beautiful nature island of Dominica.

“We wanted to give something back to the warm and hospitable people of Dominica in their efforts to rebuild the island after Hurricane Maria.”

The group have transferred £3,676 to Dominica Hurricane Maria Relief Fund, official fundraising channel established by Dominica’s High Commission in the United Kingdom.

Løkse said she is determined to keep the fundraising efforts going.

“We hope to inspire other sailing communities in Scandinavia to do the same. And we hope to visit again sometime in the future.”

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who was among those left homeless following the natural disaster, has pledged to rebuild the country into the world’s first climate resilient nation.