Posted by Greg Carey on September 30, 1999 at 08:25:08:
Prime Minister Visits Eleuthera and Abaco
The prime Minister held town meetings in Eleuthera and Abaco this weekend and it is apparent that some supplies still haven't reached some of the people in greatest need. Profiteering and price-gouging are alleged to be rampant. There were unconfirmed reports of water being sold in South Eleuthera for $3.50 per gallon and 'discounted' at $15.00 per 5 gallons. The Prime Minister warns that the Government intends to "fine people for profiteering anywhere in the Bahamas" and encouraged consumers who face this problem to get receipts and report these matters to the authorities. The only problem is that items are in short supply and no one wants to risk being shared out by requesting receipts or by naming the scalpers publicly.
The Government itself has shipped many gallons of water to Eleuthera, and other islands, but there are reports that water and other supplies are being hoarded and not fairly distributed to the residents. To help aleviate this problem, a barge that converts salt water into fresh, drinking water is also stationed in Rock Sound .
The Prime Minister in answering the concerns of another Eleuthera resident, concerning the fair distribution of building materials aid, indicated that social workers will visit residents of all homes damaged by the hurricane to determine what their needs are. The Government in turn, will dispense relief supplies accordingly. He assured that local governments and social workers will see that the needy are assisted.
Residents of both Abaco and Eleuthera are appealing to the Government to extend the sixty-day period in which relief supplies, including building materials, can be brought into these islands duty free (Click Here For List). The Prime Minister indicated that the government would take the request under consideration, but encouraged residents to take advantage of the grace period while it is in effect now!
Ingraham also encouraged residents of Eleuthera to show their leadership and get their communities back together. He said that even though Eleuthera was badly damaged, Cat Island, Harbour Island and Abaco were damaged as badly or worse. To further his point, he alluded to the fact that Abaco and Harbour Island residents have gotten together and cleaned the debris from the streets and roadways, while much debris still remains along the streets in Eleuthera. There have been rumours that some Eleutherans feel it is the job of the Defense Force to clean up the South. The PM challenged Eleutherans to show the leadership they had when he was a little boy. He said "In those days Abaco residents wanted to be like Eleuthera, which was considered to be a far more progressive "island."
The PM has also suggested that owners of severely damaged homes and business properties, make efforts to replace these structures rather than repairing them. That way they can ensure that buildings meet the building codes and are more hurricane resistant.
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Economic Forecast Bleak For Bahamas
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, in his assessment of the hurricane aftermath, confirmed that the Bahamian economy has suffered a severe setback and that it will be some time it recovers fully from Floyd. Many jobs have already been lost and more are projected to be lost in the tourism industry as the Bahamas is presently mired in one of its lowest hotel occupancy periods in recent times. The PM reasserts that crops and livestock have been virtually wiped out and will take time to replenish. He further states that even marine life was severely affected by the storm and the experts are forcasting that this will probably be one of the lowest lobster production seasons in recent history.
Ingraham further stated that only the prayers of the Saints limited the destruction of the Hurricane in the Bahamas and while their prayers cannot stop events that are to come, the entire population of the Bahamas needs to fall to its knees and start praising God.