By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

MORE than two months since the passage of Hurricane Joaquin, Prime Minister Perry Christie said the government has so far spent $625,363 to either repair or begin rebuilding homes that were damaged when the storm hit.

The expenditure on material amounts to $574,037 and labour was $51,326.23, Mr Christie told parliamentarians yesterday.

He added that Exigency Orders, which were brought into force to help persons and businesses import items, still remain active with a total of 39 applications for duty exemption processed by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). He said two applications were currently being processed.

In his fourth update since Joaquin devastated the central and southern islands, the prime minister said 90 homes – 32 in Long Island, 30 in Acklins, 15 in San Salvador, seven in Rum Cay and six in Crooked Island – have been completely repaired. Officials are in the process of finishing repairs on 11 homes across those islands, Mr Christie said.

Apart from the repairs, Mr Christie said 31 homes in the affected islands were assessed and need to be rebuilt.

He said while repairs continue, officials were in Long Island assessing how to assist farmers and fishermen who experienced a severe blow because of Hurricane Joaquin’s violent wind and rain.

Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources V Alfred Gray has been instructed to report to Cabinet at the earliest on a plan for immediate remediation, including costs, Mr Christie said.

In the instance of the loss to the fisheries sector, Mr Christie said the government would explore options to advance soft or non-interest bearing loans so that individuals can replace their vessels and other fishing apparatus.

“The local economy in Long Island was severely impacted by Hurricane Joaquin,” Mr Christie said in the House of Assembly. “Hurricane Joaquin inflicted catastrophic damage to the island’s two main industries, namely farming and fishing. The reports from the agricultural and fisheries sector were delayed, understandably, due to the catastrophic damage done to the homes and personal lives of local residents.

“The usual immediate assessment of agricultural damage was delayed to allow the Department of Social Services and NEMA, as first responders, to assess and respond to the island’s immediate needs, such as food, shelter and clothing. It should also be noted that most of the island, including farms and roadways were under water for weeks after the passage of the hurricane making it practically impossible to do a thorough assessment in the early stages.”

He added: “Both crop and livestock farming were severely impacted, with livestock faring better than crops overall.

“The entire fishing fleet of some 20 large fishing vessels and a number of smaller vessels were destroyed or swept inland due to tidal surges.

“Also, it should be noted that the Packing House in Clarence Town has been severely damaged, losing its entire roof and metal sidings and is exposed to all natural elements and is no longer habitable for staff members. It is to be noted, also, that the technical officers have not been able to put a dollar value to the loss incurred in the agricultural and fisheries sector in Long Island but it is safe to assume that it will run into the millions of dollars.”

NEMA has raised roughly $1.9m in donations from the private sector in the wake of Hurricane Joaquin.

In a previous address, Mr Christie said it would cost almost $57 million to repair government buildings and infrastructure damaged or destroyed during the passage of Hurricane Joaquin.

Earlier this month, while addressing an international climate change seminar in Paris, France, Mr Christie told world leaders Hurricane Joaquin damage estimates had increased to $100 million, as he pledged to explore whether insurance could further help the Bahamas recover from such storms.

In October, Mr Christie said that the funding needed for the recovery and repair phase of the hurricane would come by either borrowing from the Caribbean Development Bank, financing from China or by other traditional means of sourcing.

Hurricane Joaquin battered the central and southern Bahamas on October 1 and 2, destroying homes and buildings and causing severe flooding in many areas.