By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said on Friday that the long-delayed hurricane shelter in Central Pines, Abaco, will be completed by the end of May — just in time for the start of hurricane season.

However, his projection clashed with comments from North Abaco MP Kirk Cornish, who toured the facility the week before and said contractors had not given him a timeline for completion.

The shelter, which broke ground in December 2020, has faced repeated delays, structural issues, and public frustration over its pace. Initially budgeted at $1.4m, the cost has since ballooned to $4m after a design overhaul.

Although he said he has not yet received a final update on the shelter’s budget, Mr Davis expressed satisfaction with its progress and defended the increased spending.

He praised the quality of the Bahamian-built structure and the work done by local contractors.

Mr Davis said he was pleasantly surprised by the project’s progress and praised the quality of work done by Bahamian contractors, calling it a reflection of local ingenuity and skill.

The shelter is being developed in partnership with the United Nations and funded by the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. It is designed to withstand winds of up to 250 miles per hour and will feature an industrial kitchen, emergency communications systems, accessible restrooms and showers, and office space for emergency personnel. It was originally scheduled to be completed by December 2024.

In addition to structural setbacks and budget overruns, the project suffered a blow in September when the roof trusses collapsed, fuelling concerns among residents. Community members have also criticised the shelter’s capacity and the number of windows in the design.

The Disaster Risk Management Authority is set to begin nationwide inspections of emergency shelters tomorrow.