Comrades! The PM promised that his government would put aside politics to get on with the recovery that resulted from the aftermath of hurricane Matthew. Sounded good, right? But then the PM within hours announces that he has appointed Shane Gibson as his head coordinator of the estimated the $300 million hurricane relief efforts at the government level.
PM is this your way to assure the people that the business of the nation's relief efforts have been placed under the most capable hands, or is it just normal PLP trash talk, again with the appointment of same old "no proof of them having changed a damn bit' members of the PLP's 2002-2007 government's days?
Aren't the 600 workers at Sandals, still waiting for news to reach the ministry of labour's offices that their paychecks were yanked from under them by the owner of Sandals?

Why is he of all people heading this relief fund??? As I send before, any organization who donates any money better put ten pairs of eyes on how the money is spent, whether the people contracted are qualified to do the work and whether they give value for dollar. Mayor Nagen is still in jail for awarding himself and his interests lucrative contracts from the hurricane Katrina relief fund.

As an aside, thieves and extortionists will always be thieves and extortionists. They don't care about you and your problems.

This only makes sense if it's to make sure the cuts are distributed efficiently???? Head Knowkes did quite well without the appointment of a "minister in charge of relief efforts".

Suck teeth, then they talking about climate change and coastal erosion and the government doing all it could for Nygard and Blackbeard's Cay. Don't forget all the dredging Resorts World was remitted to do for their ferry only to cancel the service within months. No vision. Destroying the country. Please resign

The PLP government cannot manage a hurricane recovery mission ........... case in point, the few match box houses they are building in the islands after Joaquin cannot even be built one year after the hurricane!!!!!! ........... much less other infrastructure ($100 million????)
Now Perry puts Shame Gibson (the biggest ripper) in charge of hurricane restoration ........ he could have done worst by putting Brave in charge ........ but lots of contracts will be awarded to PLP cronies (like the 3 generals in Long Island) and the money will flow before the election
........... my dear Bahamians, we are in for a rough ride with these crooked PLPs ..... and do not forget that the Treasury is broke already

I have a feeling the hurting the PLP put on the public treasury for hurricane relief and rebuilding will far exceed the damage wrought by Hurricane Matthew. The treachery of the PLP frightens me way more than any storm.

Shame Gibson emmmm......that is scary!

Good chunk of repairs still ain't done from the first 100M in Joaquin...not disrespecting the cash outlay, but major money has been paid recently with no results or accountability...

VAT gonna jump...15% coming, regardless of who is elected next election...brace for it...

So what Perry is saying is in order for donations to be duty free, vat free and with no processing fees they must be donated to NEMA. While the idea may be good intentioned it will become a national disaster. It will slow the process of getting much needed supplies to hurricane victims. Also NEMAS track record of reaching all persons in need is questionable. Should have included the Red Cross and at least two other agencies.

The good part in this is that thousands of jobs will be created in areas of the country that most need them. This may be the stimulus needed to get the economy moving. Government should neither miss or mess up this opportunity. Get young men employed in hurricane repairs and recovery and have other jobs to piggy back on thst

1. What PGC means to say is that he has no effing clue as to how expensive this storm was.

2. The tax rebates offered may (*may*) be an incentive to businesses to donate, but they sure as hell are not an incentive for non-business owners to open their purse. Thereby, again, highlighting that our country's regressive tax system benefits only the 1%, but HURTS the 99%.

The stipulation that the donations be made to NEMA is a simply an attempt at creating another massive pie, just like VAT and NIB. They could have just as easily given a list of approved organizations as John indicated. Head Knowles has proven itself more than capable. It would take little effort for them to produce an official document showing a wire transfer and audited records regarding distribution.

It also looks like an attempt at glory hogging before the election, there was no need to put a government minister in charge, absolutely none. A private citizen could have been appointed to the role. The appointment of this individual is so ludicrous, when a relative told me about it, I asked them if they were sure they'd understood what was said. I literally couldn't believe it and really didn't believe it until I read the news article for myself some hours later.

I hope organizations weigh the danger of giving money and supplies to this government, versus donating to reputable charitable organizations and the scales come out in favour of donations actually being used to help people versus a 10% rebate.

Head Knowles pissed off a bunch of people post disaster relief, including many businesses that donated VERY generously...Doubtful they will get the massive outpouring again...

I remember taking some canned goods, clothing and a cheque for TransAir(?) to the distribution center after Joaquin, the gentleman who took the cheque must have been the most rude individual on earth, I can't say he snatched the cheque, he took it, never looked at me, never said a word and just walked away, I was astounded, this was a grown hip man with curly hair (side eyes) ...but anyway, I calmed my incensed self and said my feelings don't matter so much, I wanted the people to get help. **If** that was a pattern then they shouldn't be in the business of accepting donations, hopefully it's not a pattern.

HeadKnowles got donations and accounted for their donations .............. no one knows what NEMA/MOF got to date for Joaquin and no one has ever seen their accounts ......... and what bank account does NEMA use???????? ................ is it not the Consolidated Fund????? .......... Where is the Auditor-General on this lack of transparency????????? ....... now we are back to Square One with Matthew and the same NEMA/MOF/Shame Gibson lack of transparency ............ and who can give any QS verification that the Joaquin damages were $100million (as Perry said) and that $100 million was actually spent by the government?????? ............... this PLP government operates on "smoke and mirrors"

Christie is the consummate doofus.....of all the very crooked crooks in his cabinet he appoints Shameless Shane Gibson (who received the Anna Nicole diamond encrusted 18k gold Rolex watch for very special favours) to shield him from the political heat associated with his government's obvious unpreparedness for a major hurricane. Lord give us strength!