The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce's president yesterday said he was looking to develop "a plan of attack" for the restoration of commerce as businesses slowly re-open after Dorian.

Gregory LaRoda told Tribune Business that the restoration of key utility services - electricity, water and communications - was key to the speed with which the Grand Bahama private sector could rebound in the aftermath of the Category Five storm's devastation.

He identified power, in particular, as a problem since many storm surge-flooded businesses needed to first be inspected by an electrician before the Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC) could restore service.

"There is still no power in downtown Freeport," Mr LaRoda said. "The main reason why, from what I have been led to understand, is that these businesses need to be assessed by electricians first in order for the Grand Bahama Power Company.

"Grand Bahama was hit really hard without question. As of now we're using social media to reach out and communicate with business owners. As a chamber we're using this time to make personal assessments. But this week we'll be using our time as a chamber to make contact with all businesses as a unit.

"We need to get out there to meet with SMEs to see what is the extent of their damages, and what their direct needs are. The difficulty with touching base with persons has been that the telecommunications is still poor, and there has been a lot of flooding along with some businesses still being closed."

Mr LaRoda added that the GB Chamber was working closely with the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) in Nassau to see what sort of relief assistance the two bodies can collaborate on for the private sector.

"Jeffrey Beckles, the New Providence Chamber's executive director, is supposed to come in for a visit this week some time," Mr LaRoda said. "We don't have a specific plan of attack yet, but this is something we will discuss with our chamber partners in New Providence to see what's best moving forward for all businesses - those in both the bonded area under the jurisdiction of the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA), and those businesses outside of it that are under the jurisdiction of the central government in New Providence."

Mr LaRoda continued: "As for the company I work for, Buckeye Partners (BORCO's owner), we have already completed our hurricane assessments. There was light damage to our roof domes, as some of the panels came loose. We have already repaired some of those.

"There has been no environmental issues to report, no oil spills, and no breach of our tanks in any way. In fact, we are in a better position than we were with the previous Hurricane Irma. What we did do over the weekend is that we closed the terminals, but now they are back up and running. We were just taking extra precaution in waiting for the current tropical weather system, Humberto, to fully pass by."

Mr LaRoda said banking services were available on Grand Bahama, with Commonwealth Bank's branch in the Seahorse Plaza already open for business. He has been told that Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) plans to open its branch tomorrow.

"The Solomon's Fresh Market in the Seahorse Plaza is open as well as Cost Right, so people have been able to get food and additional supplies if they need it," the GB Chamber chief said.

"The water pressure is still not reliable in the city in addition to the power in central Freeport not being fully restored, but having the power restored has to go hand-in-hand with electrical flood assessments.... From what I understand everybody in the industrial centre should have power by the end of this week."

Mr LaRoda praised GB Power for doing "a good job thus far" with restoration efforts, and added: "I am aware that most of the industrial sector has power, and everybody who doesn't should have power this week. Everything should be back to normal after this week in terms of power and water for the industrial sector.

"Equinor/Statoil (South Riding Point) took a significant hit, and there is quite a bit of loss on their end. They have been dealing with an oil spill at their facilities. So we are just keeping our eyes on that. But most of the industrial sector has been on back-up power and generators in the meantime if their power has not been restored as yet."