EDITOR, The Tribune.

EVEN a blind and also a deaf person will recognise we are getting far more regular challenges from hurricanes and they are much larger and more intense?

The Bahamas in its nature is an archipelagic island group flying time from the most northern island to the most southerly probably over two plus hours.

We saw in recent incidents, storms, how a CAT 5 can change the island totally and it costs millions to return it to a livable state - Joaquin, Matthew are all good examples.

The Caribbean Catastrophic Insurance is not the panacea that everyone is seeking - look at what was the Jamaica experience with Matthew. This means that the rebuild cost has to come directly from donations and the Public Treasury.

May I suggest to all churches you start a catastrophic emergency fund with your members......$1.00 a week...a church with say 10,000 members could collect $520,000.00 to be administered to their members when there is an emergency like a hurricane. Surely all church members can afford a $1.00 every Sunday?

DOPPLER RADAR ... were we not told that by March-April, 2017 the new unit at LPIA would be operational? Was it for IRMA? The next unit was to be built in Abaco -I would suggest Mayaguana or Long Island should come before Abaco as most storms enter The Bahamas in this quadrant ..... with Doppler working the Met people will have a far better and improved forecasting potential.

If I was PM - the Met Office would be a serious Agency ... state-of-the art equipment period no excuse.... built in a bunker with all the amenities. We are subject to hurricanes every year for six-months .... lt is as logical as it was to evacuate Ragged/Crooked and Inagua islands which I feel we are making too much politics about. During a storm they would broadcast live 24/7, a studio would be included ...... remember you do not need a television set everyone has a cell phone ..... when there is a threat of a tornado text the public through BTC and Aliv.

Grand Bahama unfortunately the Forecasting of Weather is a Bahamas Government responsibility - immediately I would ask the GBPA - Hutchinson Whampao (owners of the Airport) to buy a Doppler radar unit for Freeport.

Is there a single reason not to do what I suggest?

If we had a top flight forecasting service with Doppler possibly some financial arrangement could be made with the excellent NOA and other US agencies.

We all have to be most thankful to our Met forecasters and those from the US!

W THOMPSON

Nassau,

September 13, 2017.