Saturday, October 10, 2015
THE massive relief operation to get help to the southern Bahamas island ravaged by Hurricane Joaquin continues apace on Saturday with DC-3 cargo planes in the air after leaving with supplies packed in Nassau.
One plane from the Tribune Media Groups' SOS - Save Our South operation landed in Crooked Island on Saturday morning, where nurses Stubbs and Bonaby in a clinic set up at the Colonel Hill airport made an appeal for generators in order to store and refrigerate insulin for diabetics and other medical supplies. With the help of relief organisation HeadKnowles a solar-powered generator was delivered later, according to Robert Carron, the president of the Tribune Media Group, who organised the flight.
One mother of five from Colonel Hill pleaded for her family - including three adults - to be evacuated later today by returning planes. She was concerned that her youngster had been bitten by a mosquito and feared infection.
The evidence of devastation around the island included a BTC communications tower at Major's Cay - built to withstand winds of up to 150mph - snapped in half, water turning stagnant and the road at Winding Bay washed away by the storm surge. There was also anger from one resident who felt that he was being prevented from doing an urgent job nearby by the local MP V Alfred Gray, who he claimed was bringing in someone from Acklins.
Leslie Miller, the MP for Tall Pines, couldn't believe what he was seeing on Crooked Island. "It is unbelievable the degree of the destruction. It makes you appreciate what nature and what the seas is all about and the force that that hurricane that has done to this island.
"I cannot believe that a road can be totally taken by the seas. Its unbelievable that this beautiful beach has been formed where this road once was. You have to see this to believe it." He estimated that the cost of repairing the road would be "half a million dollars".
Mrs Neely, the Crooked Island Adminstrator, told The Tribune that "every building on this island has been affected".
She appealed for cleaning supplies - bleach and Pine-Sol - "because the water is now becoming compromised". She listed towels, bedding, portable gas stoves, sheets and plastics for beds because the mattresses were not dry among immediate essentials.
Mrs Neely said she had been in Nassau when the storm hit and when she returned on Sunday she found her house damaged and all her personal effects lost. The worst hit areas she said were Landrail Point and Cabbage Hill. "We definitely need more manpower on the ground," she said and a need for high vehicles as there was an flooded area almost a mile long which was impassable.
Mr Miller and John Bostwick, the former senator, were part of the visit on behalf of One Bahamas.
Mr Bostwick told residents that the stories reaching Nassau were that "Crooked Island has been destroyed, that Crooked Island seriously is sinking under the seas" and that people had abandoned the island, wanted to leave and not return. He said he wanted the right message to go back to Nassau. He was told emphatically by one resident that "Crooked Island is not going to be abandoned. I can assure you that Crooked Island is going to be rebuilt."
Comments
John says...
A blood moon storm. Most people will not experience another one in their life time. Remember The Carolinas and parts of Florida are still under (sea) water.
Posted 10 October 2015, 4 p.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
Comrade Pot cake is but another PLP MP, rubbernecking at the devastation Hurricane Joaquin left behind on Crooked Island, like you'd do while gawking at an car accident you just came across on the road. You'd think with each better view, these members PLP government - and red party's MP's, would say - enough looking - time roll-up their damn sleeves and respond quickly to the urgent needs all hurtin islanders.
But there is a positive side to the inaction of these politicians - they are quite noticeable as standing under the same big umbrella of voter disappointment come the 2017 General. Oh yes, each will all be remember in voting booths across Bahamaland.
Registered voters should be given the option to unregistered to vote.
Posted 10 October 2015, 6:39 p.m. Suggest removal
ThisIsOurs says...
Yep, morbid curiosity. Why each and everyone of them have to fly down (at who's cost) is beyond me. Get to dang work
Posted 11 October 2015, 12:40 a.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
Comrade ThisIsOurs all the rubbernecking by politicians will not change what some in the islands are claiming - that there were satellite phones that either have had dead batteries for months prior to Hurricane Joaquin, or the policeman's and emergency personnel - either did not know the phone numbers of the satellite phones to even have dialed them for the emergency help they needed - even if they had they been operational. But Loretta too has has now joined the NEMA chorus of praise singing out the high praises of the good response job NEMA have and are continuing to perform on behalf of the hurricane's victims.
Like I keep saying, tis only da colours they t-shirts that allows voters tells them apart.
I say give voters the option to "Unregistered Their Votes" - cuz this is the most effective way send their colours of t-shirts, your clear and unmistakable messages that you will NOT be voting for any of their political parties candidates.
Posted 11 October 2015, 9:09 a.m. Suggest removal
Baha10 says...
Probably your best Postings to date, both Political Parties have failed our Nation.
Posted 11 October 2015, 10 p.m. Suggest removal
tourist1001 says...
For Gosh Sakes, NO MORE VERTICAL VIDEOS!!
Please watch this!! https://youtu.be/Bt9zSfinwFA
Posted 11 October 2015, 11:18 p.m. Suggest removal
John says...
It is amazing to see the exceptionally great relief effort of Bahamians and friends of the Bahamas especially Florida, Jamaica and even Haiti to help out the residents of the Southern Bahamas, who were virtually wiped out by hurricane Joaquin. Of course many intend to rebuild and much of the infrastructure will have to be modified or relocated to withstand storms in the future. No lives were lost and everything that was can be replaced. Send your donations today!
Posted 12 October 2015, 9:41 a.m. Suggest removal
lazybor says...
God help us!<img src="http://s02.flagcounter.com/mini/rzN/bg_…" border="0" width="1" >
Posted 12 October 2015, 10:35 a.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
We knows Comrade Sister Loretta took to the skies with Capt Aranah and there were generous people who quickly answered the calls for donations made to assist in the hurricane's relief of Long islanders but I think we needs now more about the success of the logistics once the stuffs were dropped off at the airport? This is not exactly a poker game where you don't show your on-da-ground logistics hand.
Posted 12 October 2015, 10:49 a.m. Suggest removal
Observer says...
That downed BTC tower at Major's Cay Crooked Island was not properly secured to the footing. There is no evidence of welding, neither is there evidence that it was bolted to the footing. Will BTC report it's finding on this damage? Or is that NEMA's responsibility too?
Posted 13 October 2015, 11:55 a.m. Suggest removal
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