Just over $100 million was yesterday pumped into the island’s hurricane recovery programme by bauxite alumina firms Alpart and Windalco, as well as the country’s largest commercial banking institution, The Scotiabank Group.

The larger portion of the contribution – $83 million – was committed by the owners of the bauxite alumina companies, while The Scotiabank Group’s contribution amounted to $17.5 million which the bank said should be used to rebuild primary schools ravaged by Hurricane Dean.

Category four Dean brushed the eastern and southern shore of the island Sunday night, killing four people and destroying homes, crops and infrastructure.

Yesterday, the managing directors of Alpart and Windalco, Alberto Fabrini and Gabriel Henn respectively, said that the contribution was “an expression of the deep concern the companies share with employees and neighbouring communities who have suffered losses and trauma from the disaster”.

The money, they said, would be used to aid the recovery efforts of employees and community-based institutions in their operating areas.

The employee funding would be used to assist employees of both companies “who suffered substantial damage to their homes, as well as to recognise the dedication and commitment of the workforce in securing and maintaining the operational integrity of the plants”, the firms said in a joint news release.

The other portion will focus on a number of education, health, and agricultural facilities directly affected by Hurricane Dean.

The Scotiabank Group said that its contribution was a continuation of its tradition of supporting growth and development in the critical areas of health and education.

“Many of our primary schools have suffered severe damage at a time when students are getting ready to return,” a news release from Scotiabank quoted the bank’s president and CEO Bill Clarke. “We at Scotiabank recognise the implications for back-to-school preparations and have directed our efforts at restoring normalcy for the children during this difficult time.”