Bush estimates the clean up should take six weeks

BBC Caribbean Radio spoke to McKeeva Bush who explained the territory's current situation.

"We have been hit badly and it will take some time for the recovery. I would hopefully say six to eight weeks, but the finance sector is working and coming back on line," Mr Bush said. "We need help and we're searching for the appropriate help."

Mr Bush also said that reports of looting and disorder on Grand Cayman have been blown out of proportion.

He said looting did take place on the first night after the hurricane passed, but it was not widespread, and was dealt with quickly.

"The looting did take place it was not widespread, it was on the first night and it was shut down.

"We have things under control," he said. "It is just a matter that we have a small force and everything is stretched to the limit. The security is under control."

Mr Bush said the territory expects security assistance from the Bermuda Defence Force.

He also rejected charges that the Cayman authorities have been playing down the extent of damage in the Cayman Islands.

Downgraded

Meanwhile, Hurricane Jeanne has been downgraded to a tropical storm however; the National Hurricane Center has warned that it could strengthen in intensity.

On Friday, the south eastern Bahamas remained under a hurricane warning and the central Bahamas on a hurricane watch.

In the Dominican Republic, Jeanne claimed four lives on Friday and it caused major damage as it dumped inches and triggered mud slides.

One man was crushed by a falling tree, while another died of a heart attack because the storm prevented him from getting to the hospital, officials told the Associated Press news agency.

Both deaths occurred in El Seybo, 80 miles (135 km) northeast of the capital Santo Domingo, which was pounded by the storm Thursday. A four-month-old girl died in Santo Domingo when a landslide crushed part of her family's house.

In Samana, about 60 miles (95 km) northeast of Santo Domingo, a man on a motorcycle was killed instantly when winds slammed him into a telephone pole.

Officials said at least 12 people were injured as trees crashed down and floods struck parts of the east and northeast.

Jeanne’s heavy rains continued to soak parts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, threatening flash floods and Puerto Rico was still experiencing showers on Friday and most areas remain without drinking water and electricity for a third day.

A Puerto Rican woman was killed on Wednesday when winds flung her from a hammock and smashed her into a neighbour's house, and a man putting up storm shutters died when he fell from a roof.