CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A native of Grand Bahamas is hoping Islanders will help in his efforts to send another relief package to the island that was devastated by hurricane Dorian last year.
Luke Ignace, who now lives in Charlottetown and runs his own Black barber business, is in the process of collecting items that will be put into a 48-foot container and shipping to Grand Bahamas later this month.
“We’re looking for support from the public right now," said Ignace. “I have a 30-foot container on my property that I’ve been stuffing for the last year."
Among the items he’s collected include water, towels, health and wellness supplies, feminie hygiene products, diapers, masks and water filtration units.
“I’m asking the community to give wellness items as well as gifts to send back to the Bahamas. It’s going to be a tough Christmas season."
Kevin Murphy, president of the Murphy Hospitality Group, has donated the company’s warehouse space on Longworth Avenue (the old Schurman’s Building Supplies). Ignace and volunteers are there Tuesday through Friday from 4-8 p.m. to accept donations and he welcomes additional volunteers. More details are available at https://www.facebook.com/islandtoislandrelief.
Seafood Express and Tropical Shipping will transport the container to Grand Bahamas.
However, the Charlottetown businessman isn’t stopping there.
Ignace is also in the process of setting up a not-for-profit organization called Island to Island with the idea of connecting and facilitating opportunities between the Bahamas and P.E.I. The container of gifts and supplies is designed as a kick-off to a permanent relationship between the islands.
What it does
The not-for-profit Island to Island organization has three functions:
- Serves as a connector, facilitator and manager of a network of allied industries, institutions and individuals on low coastal lands and islands. The goal is to elevate the economic presence and awareness of diasporas from the Caribbean and Atlantic Canada in both respective locations.
- Help artists, small businesses, corporations, governments and not-for-profits in the expansion of their business strategy matrix to include and serve the growing diasporas within their local community.
- Provide economic support to the children that have been impacted by the hurricane belt.
Ignace has already met with a number of key stakeholders, including people in the business community, Premier Dennis King, Charlottetown MP Sean Casey and is planning to sit down with Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown.
Casey has been sharing information around trade development and international development.
“This container is just a kick-off, similar to when the wise men came to Jesus and gave him a gift. Can we give a gift to the Bahamas right now that say’s we’re willing to enter into a relationship with you. We are all islanders," said Ignace, adding that according to his research there are at least 300 people from the Caribbean now living in P.E.I.
Ignace points to the infrastructure of opportunity that exists in P.E.I. where information and skills could be shared: StartUp Zone, Skills P.E.I., Innovation P.E.I., Biovectra, Food Excel.
“Can we provide a digital bridge from P.E.I. that helps to disseminate information, best practices, ideas, help people facilitate immigration ... and get people working back and forth in both these regions."
Murphy said helping Ignace wasn’t a difficult decision, saying the native of Grand Bahamas has passion and energy to burn.
“I give him credit," Murphy said. “Anytime you see a kid like that that is trying to do something good for his country and (develop) a connection between P.E.I. and the Bahamas ... good for him."
Murphy said he wishes he could do more for Ignace than lend the use of the warehouse but the COVID-19 pandemic has everyone in a bind.
“Right now, it's just moral support. Sending down whatever we can means a lot more down there than we think it does up here," Murphy said.
Ignace is also looking to set up a board of directors. Anyone interested is asked to visit the website.
