Government 'understands urgent need for cleanup' in East End

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

STATE Minister for Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson said government understands the urgent need for cleanup in East End and has created a new ministry especially to deal with the massive clean-up, and disaster recovery and reconstruction.

Grand Bahama and Abaco were severely affected by Hurricane Dorian in early September which caused widespread destruction of homes and property on both islands. The death toll stands at 61.

The Tribune visited residents in East End on Wednesday, and a resident there felt that more could have been done in terms of clean-up after a month.

Asked when government would commence cleanup in the East End communities, Minister Thompson said Friday: “We understand and we know that cleanup needs to occur…urgently."

“We are very pleased that we have the new minister who has responsibility for the clean-up, disaster recovery, and disaster reconstruction.”

Iram Lewis, MP for Central Grand Bahama, was appointed State Minister of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction, a new ministry created in the the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.

According to Minister Thompson, “ongoing now they are putting together those plans with respect to clean up and we expect that the new minister who is in the process of building his team at NEMA, and is going to as soon as possible get on the ground in East End and going to be able to bring immediate assistance to those persons in EE.”

“We have confidence with putting in place this new ministry and the technical assistance that is needed that we will then begin to see the clean up and reconstruction of that area in EE.”

Additionally, he noted that with the massive cleanup that is required, they expect to see an increase in jobs for Bahamians in both the cleanup and reconstruction phase.

“One of the things we have to see with this storm, particularly in GB and Abaco, as doing is it provides again opportunity, and there is a massive cleanup that is going to be required, he said.

“While we have seen, unfortunately, some businesses have to let go persons on one end, I believe we will also see that there is going to be an uptick in construction, cleanup, and in those areas like EE that is going to really need the cleanup,” he said.

“I believe that with the addition of Mr Lewis, he will be able to organize and not be limited by red tape, and provide assistance for those on the ground, particularly in EE.”

The minister was also asked about certain major developments on Grand Bahama.

The government, he said, is pleased about the signing of the Heads of Agreement with Carnival Cruise Lines, which is proposing to build a $100-m cruise port in East Grand Bahama.

“That again showed the confidence that Carnival had with respect to GB. We have also seen continual dedication of Royal Caribbean who weeks after the storm continue to provide humanitarian assistance to GB,” said Mr Thompson.

He said that government attended meetings with RCL and ITM this week, and talks are progressing regarding the purchase of Grand Lucayan Resort for $65 million, and redevelopment of Freeport Harbour.

“Those talks continue to go very smoothly, and they have again said to us not only do we want to continue with development but actually want to accelerate the talks so that we can move forward to closing,” he said.

"In some other instances, we seen the same amount of investor confidence.... with other investments," he added.

Mr Thompson believes that post Dorian rebuilding would be critical in attracting new investors.

“There are some things we are continuing to work on to make sure we rebuild with resilience, and that is one of the things we have to show to the investment community.”

“Our Tech Hub committee is focused on not seeing hurricanes as an obstacle, but as an opportunity. We have a number of businesses and residents that need to rebuild, and so our opportunity is to assist encourage, and push businesses to rebuild with the latest technology, and assist residents when they think about rebuilding, about rebuilding smart homes.

"EE provides a huge opportunity for us because it is almost like a blank slate where you really could look at building a smart city and renewable energy for power supply,” Mr Thompson said.

Comments

Ton_Heijnmans says...

...?

---
Does he know his arse from his elbow?
=
...

Posted 5 October 2019, 4 a.m. Suggest removal

bcitizen says...

Lmol

Posted 5 October 2019, 7:10 a.m. Suggest removal

ohdrap4 says...

Stop talking in bromides, you and Kay Forbes get in a truck and show up there with water and food.

They don't have trans to come to Freeport.

Posted 5 October 2019, 7:33 a.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

This politically appointed comrade's **stunning** answer to why his Imperialists red shirts colleagues **failed** to understand the urgent need for cleanup in East End, Grand Bahamaland - **was to move forward with what they do best, the politicisation to create a whole a new ministry of jobs and expense accounts for even greater number his likewise useless politically connected - rather than to deal with the massive on the ground clean-up, and disaster recovery and reconstruction,** yes, no .... Please,Joseph, the father, Jesus, you have obligation talk with your son on behalf thousands left homeless Grand Bahamalanders and Abacoians .... Amen!

Posted 5 October 2019, 12:02 p.m. Suggest removal

TheMadHatter says...

So now we know WHY East End has suffered DAILY for over 40 years under every single government of the Bahamas. We needed a new Ministry to fix it.

Hot diggity damn, at least the secret has finally slipped out.

Posted 5 October 2019, 1:56 p.m. Suggest removal

The_Oracle says...

NEMA is a complete and abject failure, so creating a Ministry will solve that?
They just never learn. Not from mistakes, not from successes. (ok pushing it there, there aren't many)
This stupidity started after Frances, 2004 in the face of all that worked, and does nothing but hamper what works.
If a new ministry was the solution, why is it being done 5 weeks after?
These guys are going to get hammered.

Posted 6 October 2019, 8:32 a.m. Suggest removal

The_Oracle says...

You aren't getting your smart city with renewable energy if URCA flat out adopts EMERA's policies of Buy all Sell all at the rate of 10 cents per kilowatt hour to the total limit of your fuel surcharge. takes your return on investment from 5-7 years to 20 plus years!
Guys like Whitney Bastian, former EMERA/GB POWER employee have absolutely regulated URCA into a lap dog.
How does protecting consumers turn into Protecting and further entrenching BEC/BPL?
The laughing stock of the world as we slide into abject poverty by our own hand and people.

Posted 6 October 2019, 10:13 a.m. Suggest removal

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