Riviera Beach and Freeport, Grand Bahama, have been sister-cities since 2012--and connected throughout history
RIVIERA BEACH - When the Town of Riviera was established in 1922, many of the residents at the time were of Bahamian descent, and lots of those pioneer families remain.
That's one reason for the quick, multi-faceted response from across the City regarding Hurricane Dorian's devastation of The Bahamas.
Mayor Ronnie L. Felder, along with the City Council and other government officials, will discuss the City's support of Bahamian relief efforts at an 11 a.m. press conference tomorrow, Saturday, September 7, at Riviera Beach Fire Rescue Station #1, which is located at City Hall, 600 W. Blue Heron Boulevard.
Through the Mayor's Office and with the full support of City Council, the City is partnering with Riviera Beach-based Tropical Shipping and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which is a unit of the Government of the Bahamas.
"This is critical," Mayor Felder said. "We are as close to The Bahamas as we are to Miami. We know The Bahamas, and The Bahamas knows us. We are here for them."
Mayor Felder was in Freeport in July for early discussions on a retooled re-launch of a sister-city agreement signed in 2012. A 10-member Bahamian delegation then came to Riviera Beach in August.
City residents and others may donate goods to the Bahamas relief effort at Fire Station #1. No cash donations are being accepted at this time. Click here for a list of needs as established by The Bahamian government.
