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Tuesday 20 sepTember 2022 locAl
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From Defense training to actual Players Choice Tours

deployment during storm Fiona The Aruba Specialist

The hurricane relief exercise that Defense tial danger for the inhabitants. What can
is holding in the Caribbean region from become a particularly big problem on the
September 15 to September 27, has been island are mudslides, flooding and land-
temporarily changed to actual deploy- slides. Here too,
ment on the Windward Islands. The local
authorities of Saba and St. Eustatius have Defense can make a difference with the
made a request to Defense to provide marines already present and provide the
military assistance in connection with the island with possible emergency aid. De-
passage of storm Fiona. A lot of rain and fense will provide an advisor for the disas-
strong gusts of wind are expected, result- ter staff to ensure smooth cooperation be-
ing in a high degree of expected dam- tween the local authorities and Defense.
age and nuisance. During deployment, In addition, more than 30 marines will act President Mr Guy Gemore founded in January 1990
Defense acts together with local security in partnership with the police and the fire Players Choice Tours and it is specializing in Aruba Va-
partners. brigade where necessary to perform vari- cations Held on Friday Evening their famous cocktail
ous tasks. party with good food and cold drinks and cocktails for
Saba has asked the Ministry of Defense to the Renaissance and Horizon Group at the Hilton Hotel.
support them in clearing areas and clear- There is currently no concrete need for
ing roads. There is also a need for pos- military assistance on Sint Maarten, but the The host of the party was Guy Gemore jr son on the
sible support with minor repairs, both be- units are ready to carry out any requests. President Guy Gemore and Heidi Belardo who has
fore and after the storm passage. Saba If no deployment is required from Defense been with the company since it has been founded.
has a limited infrastructure, which makes on Sint Maarten, the exercise program will
it important to clear roads quickly for the be resumed. The soldiers to be deployed The Renaissance Group is a 55 and over, develop-
emergency services already present. More are already present on the islands be- ment in Manchester New Jersey.
than 30 marines and a military nurse from cause of training for providing emergency
the Royal Netherlands Navy are present. response to a hurricane passage, called A special thank you goes also to John and Cathy Chi-
the 'Windward Express'. When the situation afullo and Larry Tagliani who was also part of the Play-
Dutch soldiers will also provide military as- permits, the units from Aruba, Curaçao ers Choice Tours team. Here follows some pictures of
sistance on St. Eustatius in the form of pos- and St. Maarten will resume (parts of) the that amazing night.
sible emergency aid. Due to the expected training. Supporting the local authorities
rain and wind, there is a risk of damage is one of the main tasks of Defense in the Thank You Players Choice Tours.q
to buildings and therefore also a poten- Caribbean Region.q