$10,000 mark.

Red Cross director Mr. Frank Gamble said his group had been in contact with the Antigua Red Cross and learned that while it had adequate supplies of clothing and food, there was a "critical'' need for galvanised roofing sheets.

Noting that hundreds of buildings in Antigua lost their roofs during the hurricane, Mr. Gamble said, "We have been advised by the British Red Cross, who have a delegate working in Antigua, that the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has dispatched food and hygiene parcels and that a large shipment of galvanised roofing sheet is currently en route to Antigua.'' Due to a request by the Red Cross Societies in the region, Mr. Gamble said the Bermuda Red Cross would not be collecting clothing for shipment to the Caribbean.

However he stressed the ability of Red Cross to carry out its work in disaster situations depended entirely on the cash it got from the public.

"We are grateful to those members of the public who have already made donations,'' Mr. Gamble said, "and hope that other individuals and businesses will also support our appeal.'' Meanwhile Bermuda Industrial Union president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons MP said the union -- which set up its own aid relief effort -- had received goods, including food, tarpaulins and medical supplies from pharmacists.

But Mr. Simmons said the union was experiencing difficulty in getting airlift from New York and San Juan to Antigua due to a backlog of relief supplies from other countries.

However, he expected the backlog to break shortly.

"We're expecting a generator which we purchased out of Chicago, with the help of AT&V General Trucking and Container Haulage Ltd., to arrive in Antigua between today and Thursday,'' he said. "It was on its way from Chicago to Antigua, but because of the backlog it has to go to London, then Antigua.'' Mr. Simmons said King Edward VII Memorial Hospital also offered to send hospital equipment, including beds, stretchers, crutches and medical supplies to Antigua.

The union was just waiting to hear from Antigua, he added.

Concerning financial contributions, Mr. Simmons said the union's relief effort staff was working with shop stewards to collect voluntary contributions from members for a disaster relief fund set up through the BIU Members Credit Union.

He also noted the union welcomed any donations from members of the general public.

Government donated $50,000 to the Red Cross. And Premier the Hon. David Saul pledged Government would match public donations to the Red Cross up to $200,000.