Press Release

PM Minnis opens debate on amendments to Disaster Preparedness and Response Act

The Ministry of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction is in the process of deploying temporary housing for government employees on Abaco, Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis announced in the House of Assembly on Wednesday in his second communication on Hurricane Dorian response and recovery efforts.

The Prime Minister said 100 RV trailers will accommodate 300 critical government personnel, who will play an essential role in reconstruction and recovery. A protocol is being determined for the relocation of individuals back to Abaco.

A land site next to the Spring City subdivision on Abaco is also being prepared to create the Family Relief Centre, which will serve as temporary housing accommodations for families affected by Hurricane Dorian.

The Family Relief Centre will comprise 250 dome structures that will include plumbing, drainage, a sewer system and electricity. Each dome can accommodate four to five people. The estimated cost for this facility is $6.4 million.

Land is being prepared and trenching will begin this week. Materials for the infrastructure work are scheduled to arrive on Abaco next week, said Prime Minister Minnis.

“The response to Hurricane Dorian is a comprehensive and global effort led and coordinated by the Government of The Bahamas,” said the Prime Minister. “The full resources of the Government are being deployed.”

Another essential part of the recovery and rebuilding effort is the relocation of schoolchildren, teachers and other education personnel, said Prime Minister Minnis.

So far approximately 1,400 students have been registered and the Ministry of Education is in the process of tracking down the balance of the 2,500 students who were registered at schools in Abaco before Dorian struck The Bahamas.

Some of these students are in other Family Islands, reported the Prime Minister. Some are in private schools. Some went directly to government-operated schools in New Providence, and did not come through the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium for registration as requested.

Approximately 300 students remained in Abaco, not all of whom are in schools, and some students have traveled to the United States.

“We know also that 50 students are at schools in Andros, and that more than 150 are being accommodated on Eleuthera,” said Prime Minister Minnis.

“Tragically, it is also likely that there are some school children among the persons still not accounted for in Abaco.”

In East Grand Bahama, four schools sustained significant damage, and will require extensive repairs, which will require an extensive amount of time. There was also major damage in Central Abaco.

There were some schools which sustained substantial damage but have since been repaired enough to accommodate students and have been brought up to standard to receive students for classes for half of the school day, said the Prime Minister.

Five schools in northern and southern Abaco are open but are operating on reduced hours as a result of self-help efforts from teachers and community members.

Counselling sessions, led by staff of the Employee Assistance Programme, in conjunction with the Bahamas Psychological Services were also carried out, the Prime Minister reported.

The Ministry of Education is awaiting advice from the Ministry of Works on the Scopes of Work and costings submitted by Education for the 16 schools needed to be repaired on Grand Bahama.

The estimation thus far is the Ministry of Education’s Hurricane Dorian relief budget will come in at approximately $20 million.

We’re okay here in Little Harbour. Being 10 miles south of the eye really spared us the devastation in Marsh Harbour and the cays. We have minor roof damage.

This is the current information we have for the Abacos following the unprecedented devastation of Hurricane Dorian. Please feel free to comment with new information. The picture is ever-changing with steps being taken to begin the rebuilding of lives and structures. We are awaiting email reports from all the marinas in the Abacos and will post new info when we get it. The same with Grand Bahama. No news from there yet.

The numbers are staggering in the Abacos:  With only 54 identified as deceased, there are still 1,300 people missing and 70,000 displaced. Many bodies are beyond identification.  70% of the islanders have lost their homes and most businesses suffered catastrophic loss.

FERRY SERVICE

One BOLO ferry survived at Green Turtle Cay. The others were damaged or sunk. HopeTown, Man-o-War and Guana Cay ferries were damaged or sunk. None currently operational.

SPANISH CAY

Spanish Cay is selling fuel. No other update available.

GREEN TURTLE CAY

The GREEN TURTLE CLUB is partially open. They have dockage and fuel but no water or electricity at the dock. Cash is required since without electricity and Internet, the Club can’t process credit cards. The channel into White Sound is clear of debris. The Club expects to be fully operational with food and beverages, rooms, villas, dockage, fuel, water, chandlery, and gift shop by March 1, 2020.

BRENDAL’S DIVE SHOP is recovering and opening soon.

McINTOSH’S is serving food. 

PHONE:  ALIV cell phones are working and can be used as hotspots for Internet service. 

BLUFF HOUSE sustained major destruction to the docks and buildings. There are no docks, no services there at the present time. 

The same with the OTHER SHORE CLUB in Black Sound. Their main dock from the land is partially secured, but the outer pier with fuel and dockage is destroyed, so there is no way to get ashore and no facilities there.

LEEWARD YACHT CLUB had damage to its building and part of the piers. Boats were sunk there. No services are available.

ABACO YACHT SERVICES had many long-term storage boats fall off cradles and suffer damage.

Construction has already begun to restore homes and businesses and clear endless piles of debris. There is no water or electricity in the town. Some people have their own generators. Relief efforts continue with locals and outside volunteers coming in to help with construction, food, medical care, etc. The school miraculously survived as a shelter for the entire town until after the hurricane passed. The road that extends the length of the cay is open. Freight boats have been coming in with supplies and construction crews. A BobCat loader was donated to help fill the dump trucks with massive piles of debris. Watermakers has come in to help with supplying bottled drinking water for the islanders and construction crews. Also crews have set up a kitchen for workers with basic meals. 

BAKERS BAY

Many houses were destroyed but the marina fared better than most in the area with docks mostly intact.

TREASURE CAY

Many boats were sunk at the marina. The fuel dock is gone but we understand that they are somehow selling fuel.

HOPETOWN

See earlier letter from Lighthouse Marina concerning the extent of damages. The entire inner harbour had many buildings completely wiped out, including the Harbour Lodge and Captain Jacks. We are awaiting a report from Hope Town Marina. Farther south on Elbow Cay, Sea Spray Marina and resort were leveled.

MARSH HARBOUR

Maxwell’s Supermarket & Home Store

October 9 at 7:35 PM

We’re excited to announce we plan for a soft opening on Thursday, November 7th!!

The supermarket is now almost back to rights!

As shipping and delivery logistics are starting to improve, grocery orders have now been placed. We’re still waiting on a few more register computers and refrigeration parts which we should receive by next week.

In an effort to help restore commerce on Abaco, we’re also very pleased to announce that Commonwealth Bank will be opening a satellite branch within Maxwell’s.

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to serving you again very soon!

Stay tuned for further updates

Maxwell’s

MARINAS

We are expecting to get first-hand reports from the five marinas in Marsh Harbour (Boat Harbour at Abaco Beach Resort, Conch Inn, Mangoes, Harbour View and Marsh Harbour Marina.) Basically, they were all greatly damaged and there are no services in MH at this time. It remains to be seen which will rebuild and reopen. 

POWER PLANT

The electric power plant on Great Abaco is generating but the poles are all down. There is no electricity north of the plant, virtually north of Little Harbour.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The US Coast Guard came in right away to evacuate the injured and those who had lost homes and all their possessions. Currently, there is much work to be done to rebuild the damaged and destroyed structures on all of these islands. The biggest issue is that volunteers need to be able to sustain themselves with food, water, lodging, electricity and any other supplies. There are no services or accommodations. Those with construction skills (and tools), who also provide their own place to stay such as a cruising boat, are the most helpful in these challenging circumstances. The islanders themselves can’t provide any accommodations for help. Many of them still don’t have roofs on their homes or a reliable source of food and water, not to mention electricity. Check the local websites for direction and information.