The Bahamas Online: ...unlocking the endless world of promise, potential and possibilities

E-Bahamas: A Bahamas tomorrow

By Dr. Hubert Minnis

When you look around New Providence today, what do you see?  When you think of our institutions, what do they offer?  What does The Bahamas look like now?  Are we only sun, sand and sea or are we promise, potential, and possibilities?  I think the latter.

Some Bahamians look around in New Providence through impatient eyes and see mounds and mounds of dirt, debris and open trenches.  They see workmen and equipment digging, placing pipes and paving the roads on many of our major thoroughfares.  I, however, look not at the present state but the future.  I see the infrastructural improvements in fiber optic cabling, underground utilities for water and power.  I see what the roadwork will offer, what it will change and what it will impact.

Thinking of underground utilities, in light of the passing of Hurricane Irene, imagine if all utilities were underground. The loss of service would have been minimal at best.  There would be little to no pole damage, and little to no disruption of service.  That is what I see in the future Bahamas.

When I am inconvenienced by the traffic diversions due to the roadwork, instead of getting enraged, I envision the more efficient flow of traffic that will result from the completed roads.  Regarding the six-legged round-about, this junction has decreased my morning and afternoon travel by at least 10 minutes due to its more efficient traffic flow.

The road improvement should bring about an improvement in the water quality throughout the island of New Providence, as several aged corroded pipes will be replaced enabling the uninhibited flow of reverse osmosis water to areas that currently experience rust in their water supply.  The road project will improve the fiber optic capabilities throughout the island, which will increase technological advances within The Bahamas.

 

Electronic healthcare

In the future The Bahamas will continue with e-health, improving the health service delivery system.  This advance expands the availability of specialist care.

In the not too distant future the new operating theatres at the Princess Margaret Hospital will be fitted with videoconferencing technology through which specialist surgeons could provide assistance during actual surgery.  This would be particularly beneficial when patients are unable to travel.

Telemedicine will be expanded into new areas of specialty, as there is notable success in this medical advancement.  Abaco and Andros patients are seen via videoconferencing by specialists here in Nassau.

I envision the continuance of e-health through the introduction of electronic medical records.  Patients would no longer travel with their medical files.  The file would electronically follow them to any connected clinic, private practice or hospital.

 

Online government services

Our future has already started taking shape.  We have embarked on the journey to join the rest of the world through globalization.  The introduction of e-government via online applications for passports, registration for government services and the gradual move to additional online services will propel The Bahamas into this age of technology.

This translates to persons on any island of this archipelago having the means and opportunity to renew driver’s licenses, to apply online for government services and to pay taxes, such as real property tax, online.

This advance is paralleled by our current ability to book airline tickets, transportation and accommodation online in order to facilitate travel abroad.

I also see the online ordering of groceries for New Providence and the Family Islands with the option of home delivery.  Online bill payment will eventually become the norm, with most banking transactions being conducted online instead of residents travelling to banks.

 

Changes in tourism

I see our tourism industry positively impacted by our partnership in the globalization of the world.  Our future can be littered with endless opportunities when our valued tourists come to our shores, no matter the island of their destination, and they can connect to our website via smartphones to make online reservations at restaurants; to get directions for their rental cars; to contact tour and island activities; and to get help in cases of emergency.

I see the offering of our craft, straw work and Junkanoo art online with the global market at our doorstep waiting to quickly purchase the items so reminiscent of their island in the sun.  How about duty-free shopping online?  Visitors could use their smartphones to purchase items that would be delivered to their airplane for their convenience.

With the Baha Mar and Atlantis anchors, we expect a bright future in the tourism market.  These bright stars would lead the way.  I think of a marriage between east and west with Baha Mar’s Chinese influence, and Atlantis tapping into the Latin countries.  We have an opportunity to not only showcase our Bahamian culture, but to learn the culture and languages of these new tourists to our shores.

I was so impressed to see the Copa flights landing from Latin American ports bringing many bright-eyed eager Spanish speakers to The Bahamas that I am inclined to brush up on a little Spanish, as I was always intrigued by their rich, vibrant culture and would welcome a culture fusion from this marriage of convenience.

 

Education

That brings me to my next point as we look at our crystal ball into the future Bahamas – education.  We must, old and young alike, invest in our continued education.  We have an opportunity to expand into e-learning.  For those who may not have done well in high school, these individuals can explore continued education to brush up on the skills that are required in the job market.

Those who wish to enhance or change their careers could also use e-learning, either through COB’s Continued Education program or by various online courses and degrees offered by other institutions within the global education market.  The opportunity includes individuals from the Family Islands who could broaden their horizons through e-learning portals and tap into educational institutions that were not traditionally available to them.

 

Our future

We must learn from the influences that grace our shores and add our unique flare, making our product a special one.  The Bahamas has enjoyed, over the years, many cultural influences.  Now let’s take it to the global stage.  Let’s offer the world our Bahamian products not only when people travel here, but when they google Bahamas they should be inundated with vibrant Junkanoo art, straw craft and the memory of the sweet island life.

Let’s take over the Internet market.  We have so much to offer as a small nation.  We are not an industrial nation.  We are not a horticultural nation, or collectively a technological giant.  However, together as a nation we are a cultural giant.

We can take the world by storm.  As the traditional employment sectors locally become saturated, we must flex and expand to the global market. I implore you, if you have an entrepreneurial idea, sit down with an Internet savvy young adult and allow your mind to meld with that person’s, unlocking the endless world of promise, potential and possibilities.

Aug 31, 2011

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

The difference between Perry Christie and Hubert Ingraham: Christie talks... and Ingraham acts

tribune242 editorial


WHILE Prime Minister Ingraham was still out in a helicopter last night -- landing in Nassau at 9.45pm-- after touring various settlements in Abaco, Opposition leader Perry Christie was in Nassau talking -- rather complaining about government's disaster strategy.

At a press conference yesterday PLP officials directed our attention to government's "mistakes" and "failures" in response to Hurricane Irene. We always take these directions as an invitation to go a step further. For us it is a temptation to open the PLP files on their administration's handling of the back-to-back Hurricanes Jeanne and Frances in 2004, and the NEMA disaster funds for which -- if memory serves -- Bahamians are yet to be given an accounting for that period. Sir Jack Hayward certainly made enough noise over his million dollar donation, which was not used for the hurricane repairs for which he intended them.

On Saturday a 72-year-old lady from Eight Mile Rock said that she realised that many of our islands had been badly damaged by Hurricane Irene. "But thank God that the FNM are in power this time," she added. She said she would never want anyone to experience what they had to experience under the PLP after the 2004 hurricanes. She knew the FNM would be fair. This speaks volumes, and our files of that period will support her words.

What went on today just illustrates the difference between the two leaders - Ingraham and Christie - and their administrations. One talks... the other acts. And when election day comes, Bahamians will have to decide which man they would prefer to administer their affairs - the one landing back in Nassau last night in a helicopter amidst rolling thunder after visiting his constituents, or the one in the safety of the capital complaining to the press.

Mr Christie thought that Prime Minister Ingraham's post hurricane assessment was insensitive to victims whose livelihood had been severely affected.

"When the leader of the country enters into a debate on a matter of a distaste and the impact of it, he has to exercise greater care than (Mr Ingraham) exercised in speaking."

We presume that Mr Christie was referring to Mr Ingraham being disturbed that a newspaper chose the word "devastated" to describe the affect of Irene on these islands. Ever a positive man of action, the word "devastated" conveyed to Mr Ingraham that our islands were down and out for the count. This is a position that he accepts in nothing -- damaged, yes, but down and out, no.

He saw the people's suffering. He felt it deeply. He knew many had lost everything, but he was on a tireless mission to see that they were helped to their feet as quickly as possible. He, like everyone else, was lamenting the destruction, he was not minimising or "making light" of something that was incredibly serious. But, he knew that sitting down crying over a disaster would not get anyone anywhere quickly -- and so he moved on from island to island, discovering the damage for himself and deciding how quickly it could be repaired.

He is leaving the walking and talking and touching and looking into people's eyes to see their hurt and pain -- as expressed at the press conference by MICAL MP Alfred Grey -- to Mr Grey and Mr Christie. While they are "pressing flesh", he will be getting the material to put a roof of people's heads.

"Brave" Davis, Cat Island MP, who hurried to his district right after the hurricane, suggested that Mr Ingraham consider waiving the duty on appliances for affected persons. While Mr Davis was suggesting, Mr Ingraham was doing. He had already announced that government will allow Cat Island's eligible residents to import building and electrical materials and agricultural supplies duty free.

Before leaving for Abaco yesterday to inspect the damage there, Mr Ingraham said: "Cat Island seems to be the most affected so they will have the longest period of duty exemption." He added that he thought a case could be made for Acklins and Mayaguana. However, he thought that Acklins and Cat Island were "at the top of the pile."

While Mr Davis was talking, HMBS Nassau was in Smith's Bay, Cat Island, delivering a team of Defence Force officers to distribute food, water and tarpaulin and other items to Cat Island residents who lost homes and possessions.

The officers will also help clean up the island. Mr Ingraham's government is also arranging to set up a reverse osmosis plant and generators in Cat Island.

This is hardly the behaviour of a man who fails to understand a people's tremendous loss and personal tragedy. We are confident that these stricken Bahamians would prefer what Mr Ingraham and his government are trying to do for them.

If Mr Gray thinks that what the Ingraham government is doing is "fast and inadequate," we leave it to Mr Gray to "walk and talk and touch and look in people's eyes and see the hurt and pain." People will quickly realise that these walks, talks, touching and eye contact will not put bread on their tables or a roof over their heads.

So, Bahamians, take your pick.

August 30, 2011

tribune242 editorial

caribbean Blog International

Preparation for Irene began 19 years ago after Hurricane Andrew wreaked havoc on The Bahamas

Hurricane Irene and being prepared

Front Porch

By Simon

If Hurricane Irene imagined she would meet The Bahamas unprepared, she was mistaken.  Having swamped virtually the entire archipelago, the massive, powerful and slow-moving storm met the country generally prepared for her assault.  In her wake there is a spirit of gratitude by many, especially that there was no loss of life.

Still, Irene left behind significant damage to homes, businesses and other private property, government offices and vegetation, devastating some Family Island settlements.  Cat Island, Acklins and Crooked Island, Mayaguana, Long Island and parts of San Salvador, Rum Cay, Exuma, Eleuthera and Abaco have been adversely impacted.

Foreign observers tracking Irene’s path through The Bahamas may have learned a few lessons about Bahamian geography and why it took the hurricane several days to traverse the country.  They may have learned about an archipelago of many island groups, an expanse approximately equal to that on size of the distance from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago.

The Weather Channel and weatherman Al Roker, with Bahamian roots, gave television viewers a tour through the Islands of The Bahamas as Irene’s fury battered the various island groups.

Fortuitously, the hurricane’s easterly turn mostly spared the country’s larger population centers of New Providence and Grand Bahama.  A direct hit on the former would have more adversely impacted the country and its capacity to respond to the needs of other islands.  Grand Bahama, still struggling with the aftermath of natural and economic storms, avoided another blow it could ill afford.

Preparation for Irene began 19 years ago after Hurricane Andrew wreaked havoc on the country, causing devastation in some Family Islands.  Andrew was a wake-up call from the complacency and somewhat false sense of security into which The Bahamas was lulled after avoiding major hurricanes for some years.

Irene’s assault coincided with the anniversary of Andrew’s onslaught on the country soon after the FNM and Hubert Ingraham won office in 1992.  Nineteen years later, the country is better prepared for such natural disasters because of pivotal decisions made back then.  One of the more consequential was the creation of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The creation of NEMA spurred a significantly improved culture of disaster preparedness by government and non-governmental organizations.  Despite some glitches, the timely and professional response by many government agencies and NGOs was greatly in evidence when tested by Irene.

RESPONSE

In broadcast statements before and after Irene hit, the prime minister assured Bahamians, residents and visitors, that the government’s preparedness and response mechanisms were fully in place.  Following the hurricane, Ingraham briefed the country on the multiple teams dispatched throughout the country to assess the damage and recovery needs.

The prime minister also thanked various agencies.

“I want, in particular, to commend the Department of Meteorology for the timeliness of its weather information; the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force for their continuous presence throughout the storm; and, our emergency health teams who commenced emergency operation on Wednesday ahead of the arrival of the hurricane and who remained on duty throughout,” he said.

“The Ministry of Health has given every assurance that all community health clinics around the country have adequate supplies of medications and that they will continue to be properly and adequately supplied in the weeks and months ahead.”

He continued: “Reaction teams from the Ministry of Public Works, the Department of Environmental Health Services, the Bahamas Electricity Corporation, the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Royal Bahamas Defence Force moved expeditiously to clear main public thoroughfares in New Providence even before the ‘all clear’ was given by the Department of Meteorology – and they are especially thanked.

“The Department of Environmental Health Services mobilized 20 garbage trucks on New Providence in advance of the hurricane to collect household garbage.  An additional 12 independent truckers were also engaged to collect bulk waste throughout the island of New Providence.

“I am advised that the team re-mobilized at 2 p.m. on Thursday, providing assistance to road-clearing exercises.  The team also responded to individual calls where roofs of homes were damaged as a result of trees falling.  Today, 40 teams were mobilized to continue clearing the main road arteries in Fox Hill, Bain and Grants Towns, Kennedy, Malcolm Road and in the city.”

The archipelagic nature of the country means that the logistical and organizational demands of disaster preparedness and response are unique and more complex than that of a single land mass such as Barbados.  Yet, the central government in Nassau has to respond to the challenges posed by urban centers and Family Island settlements.

These logistical and organizational challenges play to the incumbent prime minister’s strengths as demonstrated in his effective management during various hurricanes, including in lessons learned and responses implemented.

Prime Minister Ingraham has spoken of how global warming may spawn more intense storms and hurricanes, and rising sea levels especially in low-lying countries such as ours.  These things all pose complex challenges in terms of hurricane preparedness and mitigation efforts.

CENTER

Towards this end, in addition to providing NEMA with various technological and other resources, the Ingraham administration is nearing the completion of a state-of-the-art command center for the agency on Gladstone Road.

There is a three-pronged strategy to provide the northern, central and southern Bahamas with warehouses storing emergency supplies that can be made quickly available to these sectors of the country.  New Providence already has such a facility, with others planned for Grand Bahama and Inagua.

Improvements to the defence force base in Inagua and the creation of a new base in Ragged Island augment the capacity to respond to major storms and hurricanes; so will infrastructural improvements such as the installation of extensive drainage systems in parts of New Providence, especially in flood-prone areas.

Irene’s dismantling of the temporary tent housing the downtown straw market offers some lessons.  Among them: be prepared.

Some vendors who complained of the destruction of their goods left in the market during the hurricane wondered what the government might do to compensate their loss.  This included a potential loss of sales because some vendors indicated that they could not afford to miss a day’s work as a result of goods damaged or destroyed.  In essence, taxpayers should finance their irresponsibility.

A fellow straw vendor offered a to the point response noting that not only did vendors have enough time to move their goods, she also suggested that they should have been prepared for a rainy day.  Fortunately, straw vendors will soon have a new market.  Yet, many of them will continue to moan and complain because of new guidelines that will be put in place for the market.

And many who have whined incessantly about certain roadworks may get a better sense of why such extensive drainage systems are being put in place along with placing various utilities underground.  It’s not just the surface of the new roads that will enhance the quality of life of Bahamians and residents: so will the upgraded potable water system, bringing with it significantly enhanced water pressure through the extensive piping underground.

Even in the midst of significant national challenges and having weathered a major hurricane, there are many things we should be grateful for.  More of us might remember this the next time we overindulge our knee-jerk appetite to whine and complain while ignoring positive developments.

Those developments will prepare us for other hurricanes as well as the future just as the creation of NEMA left us better prepared when Irene threatened virtually the entire archipelago.  With lessons learned, we can continue to improve our disaster preparedness and response systems.  With a twist on an aphorism of Louis Pasteur, “Fortune favors the prepared country.”

Aug 30, 2011

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

Hurricane Irene lessons... So what have we learned for the future should we be faced with another storm?

LESSONS LEARNED FROM IRENE



By ROBERT CARRON
tribune242 editorial Insight


THERE is no doubt that The Bahamas was facing a threat of devastating proportions as Category 4 Hurricane Irene with winds of 135 mph, storm surges of immense proportions and torrential rain prepared to plow its way up through the entire length of our archipelago. Miraculously we were spared such a fate and suffered minimal damage with no reported loss of life.

Having had the opportunity to travel with the Prime Minister and members of his government as they assessed the damage from Hurricane Irene first hand in various Family Island communities over the last three days what immediately was apparent was Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham was there to make decisions. There was going to be no sending out of assessment teams before anything was done as in the past. The Family Island Administrators had made their reports by satellite phones, updated the various Ministers about what needed to be done. Mr Ingraham was there firsthand to learn, apply his vast knowledge and experience and make decisions to ensure that his government was accountable to the people it served.

While not wanting to minimise any damage suffered by any fellow Bahamians as trivial, because any loss no matter how small, is devastating, however contrary to reports in another daily newspaper Eleuthera was not "devastated" in the sense in which that word was being used. In fact, having been there after four hurricanes since Andrew in 1992, given the strength of the Hurricane Irene we were amazed to see how well the islands, people and communities withstood its onslaught compared to Andrew, Floyd and Jeanne. Of course, there were homes that suffered great damage, communities such as Arthur's Town, James Cistern, Green Turtle Cay, Knowles, Governor's Harbour southern Cat Island, Chesters and Lovely Bay that also suffered (see our photos), but there was nothing to suggest that there was devastation and between those areas in some cases there was no sign of a storm. As the Prime Minister clearly told the press, the words "relieved" or "spared" could have been so much better.

In 1992 and again with Hurricane Floyd, the Current, for example, suffered extensive damage so much so that only two structures were left standing. On Friday from the helicopter hovering at 100ft, no structure was destroyed and no roofs were completely damaged. In fact it appeared that the residents' immediate needs were shingles and plywood. Valentine's dock, another usual fatality that anyone would be a fool to go into a "web shop" to bet that it would survive, beat the odds. There, standing proud with only a few pieces of wood missing on its outer docks, was Valentine's dock. We were all amazed. The seawalls that had been installed in 1992 and 1999 were in all cases - from Eleuthera to Exuma to Cat Island -- a tremendous success and a good investment of the people's taxes. Not a single road that was protected by these walls had been washed away, nor were they in need of anything but a few very minor cosmetic repairs. Roads that were not protected such as in Knowles' or Smith's Bay were washed away.

So what have we learned for the future should we be faced with another storm? Well three things:

First and foremost BEC needs to be managed and held accountable to a much higher standard. The light poles - 48 of them that we counted on our tour of Cat Island- were down, not because of hurricane force winds, but because of shoddy installation and lack of planning. In all cases had the poles been drilled to the accurate depth and/or inspected afterwards perhaps the communities would not be without power today and having to wait, we are told, two to three weeks to have these poles replaced. That the power plant in Bluff, Eleuthera, a lovely modern showpiece, is without fuel to produce power is baffling. The key ingredient of a power plant for generators is oil. We understand that the government was told that the plant had enough oil to last to September 6th. We have learned that the oil is on the island, but not at the plant. BEC needs to be accountable and a public investigation needs to be initiated.

If BTC is to have the tremendous privilege of holding an exclusive cellular service within our Commonwealth then with that immense gift comes fiduciary responsibilities that the government will have to enforce. That BTC cell sites do not have their own generation facilities is shortsighted.

Marlon Johnson, VP of Sales and Marketing, made a statement to the press that the communications failure is "not our fault this time" as BEC is off. Well, yes, it is! BTC should not have to rely on the unreliable power of BEC because then they are only as reliable as something in which they have no vested interest and over which they have no control. Furthermore, having been given an exclusive cellular service in 2011 how on earth are people supposed to communicate in such dire circumstances when BEC's policy is to turn off the grid before the storm to protect its equipment and people's lives? BTC must install generators at key cell sites -- which, other than the tower in Eleuthera, appears to have suffered no damage. Are we being plunged back into the stone age to communicate by carrier pigeon all for the sake of a few generators?

The most important lesson as a country that has to be faced is that global warming, increasing violent hurricane seasons and other variables outside of our control will be a part of our future. In other words we have to accept that some of our communities are geographically unsustainable in terms of protection. The FNM and PLP also need to start a national political discussion without the usual bickering on the sustainability of having such far flung settlements inhabited by so few people, with declining populations instead of building one or two super settlements in various islands. We as a country must accept the fact that we can no longer afford to invest millions of dollars for capital projects for 72 people in any settlement. when the demands of our young and increasing population and other social infrastructure improvements go unchecked.

The media also has to play its role. It is not fair to report fiction, or to create public panic by innuendo. As the publisher of this newspaper always insists: "When in doubt, leave out!" And as the Prime Minister stated: "The clinic of Smith's Bay was not completely destroyed" as reported, although it did lose all the shingles on its roof. In fact, upon entering the facility the drop ceiling had been cleaned up and this clinic would be in good shape in a matter of days.

The Bahamian people and our media can take great reassurance from a recent article in Businessweek magazine, written by Jeff McMahon, that showed that Bahamians are nowhere near the bottom of the pile.

"Hurricane Irene is swirling around me right now," he wrote, "slamming gates, lashing shutters with wind and rain, bending coconut palms, and sweeping from these low, sandy islands anything that's not been tied down.

"In the hours leading to this moment, two distinct kinds of humans could be observed here: panicked Americans and calm Bahamians.

"American tourists crowded hotel reception desks and taxi stands yesterday, rushing to escape to the more besieged airport, while Bahamians took in stride the necessity of additional work: screwing plywood over windows, stacking deck chairs and tossing them into hotel pools to keep them from becoming airborne in the coming winds.

"Why such a difference in attitude between Bahamians and Americans? Here's what one native Bahamian told me: 'I have lived through many hurricanes in the Bahamas. You just need a place to stay out of the rain and relax until it's over."

Meanwhile, the American news channels, CNN and The Weather Channel, have been hawking danger and devastation for these islands and for 55 million people on the American East Coast. "You need to have a survival kit!" one televised expert insisted. "After 9-11 people found themselves without goggles and gas masks."

How will a gas mask help in this hurricane? Let's hope lessons learned beget lives saved.

August 29, 2011

tribune242 editorial Insight

Caribbean Blog International

Bahamians are too damn ungrateful!

By Dennis Dames



Hurricane Irene has passed through the islands of The Bahamas leaving all life intact. Thank God for that; yet people are complaining about this little thing or that insignificant matter.

Why do we find fault so much, even in time of great blessings?

The electricity is a typical example. We have life and we are in good health; yet we grumble about the power being off as if we are entitled to an eternal and uninterrupted electricity source.

Not even the mighty USA could afford to have the lights on when a violent storm is passing through; and sometimes the power is off for days or weeks before restoration - as a result of storm damage.

Most of the citizens of this world don’t have electricity, or a bowl to sit on to enjoy a good pass. Most inhabitants of the earth don’t have a food store or a shopping center to shop for the essentials of life before a threatening tempest.

Most people don’t have radios, satellites or any communication devices; nor do they have a dependable roof over their heads.

We in The Bahamas have access to all the conveniences of daily living, but we whine nonetheless – even when there is nothing to nitpick about. It’s a culture of ungratefulness and self-inflected wretchedness.

We are too damn ungrateful!

My brothers and sisters, we need to do better as God is not pleased with us just now.

Caribbean Blog International

Downtown Nassau straw vendors want government assistance following damage to the temporary straw market by Hurricane Irene

Vendors want govt assistance following damage to temporary market

Vaughnique Toote
Guardian Staff Reporter
toote@nasguard.com

Downtown straw vendors are pleading with the government to provide them with some sort of assistance in the wake of Hurricane Irene, which wrecked the temporary market they have worked in for more than a decade.

Straw vendors were shocked when they visited their workplace Friday morning and discovered that intense winds had blown the roof off.

A number of stalls were damaged as well.

“When I heard on the news that it was destroyed, I was very upset because this is my bread and butter,” said vendor Anne Green.  “I don’t know what the government is going to do, I don’t know if they’re going to assist us.  It’s very bad because I have four children in school and you have your bills.”

Green estimates she will lose about 100 dollars each day the market is closed.

Elaine Williams questioned how long she and her colleagues would be out of work.

“What I’d like to know is how long we have to stay home and if the government will help us,” she said.  “Because it would not be right staying home for weeks with nothing at all.  I need some money to pay my lil’ bills.”

Scores of vendors tried to access the market to check their stalls and see the extent of the damage firsthand.  However, police officers blocked the entrances for safety purposes.

From the outside of the tent, damaged goods could be seen on the ground.

While the majority of straw vendors cleared their stalls before the storm, others left their products in plastic bags on tables in the market.

Vendor Ellen Russell said she lost most of her goods.

“I was on vacation so I left everything.  I just got back on the island late Wednesday and had to prepare my home,” she said.

“I have to replace what I had in there so I don’t have the stuff to sell even when we have a place to sell it in.”

Yesterday Minister of Public Works Neko Grant said the government has not yet decided what will happen to the temporary market.

Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette and his wife Robin took a look at the damage while on a personal tour of the area on Thursday.

“There is some good and some bad,” Symonette said.

“Hopefully it will speed up the completion of the new market.  Also as September comes it is traditionally a slow season for tourism.  So, hopefully we will be able make some adjustments and get towards the new market.”

Like many of her fellow straw vendors, Sharon Carey said she is anxious to hear from government officials on the way forward.  She added she is grateful to God because their situation could have been much worse.

“As I stand here, I can honestly say I am happy, and to God be the glory for the great and marvelous things he has done,” Carey said with a big smile on her face.

“We don’t have a roof, but we have our booths.  We’ll see what the prime minister does, if we get to stay here or we get to go into the new market.”

Aug 27, 2011

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

...it was 'truly remarkable' that no one was seriously injured or killed as a result of Hurricane Irene - says Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham

PM says it is 'truly remarkable' that no lives were lost in Irene

tribune242





8pm - Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said it was 'truly remarkable' that no one was seriously injured or killed as a result of Hurricane Irene.

He addressed the nation in a taped television address at 8pm Friday evening to provide information regarding the storm damage and advise on what efforts will be taken to help those most affected by the dangerous storm.

In all, he advised that 1,016 people spent the storm in hurricane shelters. 156 of them in New Providence, 860 elsewhere in the country.

Assessment teams comprising Cabinet Ministers and public officers are being dispatched to all affected communities Saturday.

"The first of those departing for Cat Island tomorrow will, in addition to Ministers, include representatives from NEMA, the Department of Social Services, the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Health, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), The Water and Sewerage Corporation, Bahamas Electricity Corporation, Bahamas Telecommunications Company, Bahamas National Geographic Information System (BNGIS) Unit, the Department of Meteorology and members of the Royal Bahamas Police and Royal Bahamas Defence Forces," said Mr Ingraham.

A flight will also take three Defence Force officers to Cat Island, Acklins and Crooked Island Saturday morning laden down with food, blankets, sheets, pots and tarps.

He intends to personally visit affected Family Islands starting Saturday, including Grand Cay, Green Turtle Cay and Murphy Town, Abaco as well as Cat Island, Exuma, Inagua and other islands in the Southern Bahamas where he expects to spend at least two days.

In New Providence, where most of the damage was limited to fallen trees, branches and other debris, 40 teams from the Department of Environmental Health Services were mobilised on Friday to clear major arteries that were blocked.

Both DEHS and Ministry of Works also sent out crews on Thursday even before the all clear was given. Most of the clearing work should be completed by the end of Saturday and the verges will be cleared by Monday.

"Preliminary indications are that serious structural damage was sustained by Government offices, clinics, schools, police stations, and other infrastructure facilities including public docks in Coopers Town and Moores Island, Abaco and in George Town Exuma as well as to private dwellings and businesses in some Family Islands notably in Acklins, Crooked Island, Cat Island, Mayaguana, Exuma and some communities in Abaco.

"Most other island communities have reported varying degrees of damage to private homes, businesses, farms, fishing boats and churches. Roofs of homes, and other building sustained damage in Mayaguana, Rum Cay, San Salvador, Cat Island, Long Island, Eleuthera, Spanish Wells and Harbour Island, Exuma, Abaco, Grand Bahama and New Providence."

Some hotels and beaches in Exuma were damaged and hotel properties in New Providence and Paradise Island also experienced some minor damage.

The Prime Minister said there were reports of flooding in parts of Cat Island, Exuma, Mayaguana, San Salvador, South Eleuthera, North Long Island, Freeport at Queen’s Cove, the Fishing Hole Road and West End, Rum Cay, Central Abaco (Murphy Town) and "in low lying areas of New Providence, in particular at Lady Slipper Avenue off Soldier Rd and at Trinidad Avenue in Elizabeth Estates and to a lesser extent at the usual places prone to flooding."

The Bahamas has not been left alone to finance all the repairs that are going to be necessary. "Even before the storm had departed our waters offers of assistance have been received from the Government of the United States of America, from private sector friends of The Bahamas around the United States and from our sister Caribbean state, Jamaica whose Defence Force will fly a reconnaissance flight over Inagua tomorrow," he said, "The Caribbean Development Bank today advised of availability of an Emergency Relief Grant of up to US $200,000 and soft loans if required."

The Prime Minister advised that the storm will likely create some financial setbacks for the country, but he said the Government will focus on "on creating every opportunity for greater economic recovery, with particular emphasis on job creation. We will continue to provide social support where necessary, so that those most affected can receive the relief they need"

August 26, 2011

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