By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THE government has transferred $17m into the Disaster Emergency Fund, almost coinciding with today’s long-delayed opening of the Abaco Multipurpose Hurricane Shelter.

The timing has stirred political debate, with the opposition questioning whether the move is an election-year gesture.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the fund marks a key step in improving national disaster response and will ensure the government can act “swiftly, effectively, and equitably” when storms strike.

“We contribute so little to the problems of the world, and yet we suffer the direst consequences,” Mr Davis said in the House of Assembly. “Conservative estimates suggest that over 40 percent of our national debt exists because of climate change, not because of mismanagement or poor planning, but because we live in the path of storms we did not create.”

The $17m transfer forms part of the Comprehensive Financial Strategy for Disaster Risk Management under the 2022 Disaster Risk Management Act, created with Inter-American Development Bank support. It is meant to fund all stages of disaster preparation and recovery.

Mr Davis said the fund will help strengthen preparedness, response, and rebuilding efforts, ensuring The Bahamas never repeats the slow response seen after Dorian.

The Abaco shelter, designed to withstand Category Five hurricanes and serve as a community centre, has faced repeated setbacks since construction began. Structural issues, vandalism, and security lapses pushed its completion beyond several missed deadlines, including July 2025.

Opposition Leader Michael Pintard said while he supports the fund, he questioned the lack of transparency and regulation governing its use. He urged the government to table clear spending rules before releasing money.

“Before we do that, Madam Speaker, this House must insist on rules, transparency, and a plan that strengthens both response and prevention,” Mr Pintard said. He also warned that the fund could be depleted by a single major storm and questioned how it would be replenished.

Former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis echoed the concerns, criticising the pace of rebuilding in Abaco and Grand Bahama and the government’s failure to complete key infrastructure projects.

Dr Minnis said climate change has made powerful hurricanes more frequent and urged that the fund be reserved strictly for disaster-related activities. He questioned why the government waited until now to activate it, suggesting the timing raises concerns about fiscal discipline.