Mandatory evacuations laws does not necessarily mean the government can force persons to leave their homes in the case on an emergency or imminent danger. What is does mean is that once a person is informed of an evacuation order and the reasons for it and still refuses to leave the area he takes responsibility for his own life and safety and for that for any others he convinces to remain with him. There will be made aware that there may not be any rescue efforts available as the danger or threat is in effect. No one will risk their life to save them. Some states in the US have residents who refuse to leave an area under mandatory evacuation to sign a form indicating that they have been informed of the lurking danger and that they refused to leave This helps prevent lawsuits against the state and emergency or rescue personnel and it can make insurance claims from persons who may have been injured or for persons who lose their lives null and void if not near impossible to collect. Then there will also be the question of property damage. Seeing that the person did not leave when requested to do so did he take the necessary steps to secure personal property or to minimize damage to other property like vehicle that get flooded for example.

Actually the reverse of what D'Agular is saying is also likely. The horrific hurricane damage can be the stimulus needed to get the economy moving. Estimates are that insurance companies will have to come up with $400 million in claims money. Uninsured home India business owners may have to come up with another $500-$600 million and government may have to spend another $200 million on hurricane relief. Then there are the donations coming into the country. This is $1 billion that would not have been spent. Not only will jobs be created and unemployment reduced, but this billion dollar injection will drive economic activity. As economic activity increases there will be some economic growth. Then assume that whilst the repair and recovery work is going on work is also going on at Bah Mar and it does open next year. This can bring the unemployment numbers down by more than 50%. But what government must now do is give initiatives to get other projects going and keep the unemployment numbers decreasing. It must create some projects that will not only help unemployment, but generate revenue. This will be s matter of the country pulling itself up by its own bootstraps. Leaning more towards self sufficiency. The multiplier effect of $1 billion being injected in the economy over a short term would definitely created a much needed economic jolt.

Hopefully the government is not forgetting it offer counseling in Grand Bahama New Providence and Andros. Many persons experienced life threatening situations t( near drowning, roofs blowing off, windows blowing out) and others are in shock and grief stricken after losing everything that had. This should also be a community effort.

The good part in this is that thousands of jobs will be created in areas of the country that most need them. This may be the stimulus needed to get the economy moving. Government should neither miss or mess up this opportunity. Get young men employed in hurricane repairs and recovery and have other jobs to piggy back on thst

So what Perry is saying is in order for donations to be duty free, vat free and with no processing fees they must be donated to NEMA. While the idea may be good intentioned it will become a national disaster. It will slow the process of getting much needed supplies to hurricane victims. Also NEMAS track record of reaching all persons in need is questionable. Should have included the Red Cross and at least two other agencies.

People are still complaining that one major bank has not offered banking services to its customers since Tuesday of last week. None of the ATM's are working and all the bank branches remained closed on Saturday. Since today is also a holiday , more than likely the bank will remain closed so if the ATMs are still not up and running persons will not be able to access funds for much needed hurricane relief and recovery until Tuesday. Regulators should bring pressure to bear and ensure this bank has some of its branches open tomorrow even if they have to revert to a manual system and limit their services.

The water and ice lines are because persons are showing up at the plants and purchasing these goods as fast as they are being produced so little, if any is getting to the food stores and other distributors. Then you have the 60 plus gas stations that normally sell ice and water. Some are still closed due to damage and others have their hands full with the gas customers. And now the pressure is moving to the hardware and building supplies stores. Many have sold out of generators and chain saws. Batteries and batter operated radios are also gone. So now the rush is on roof repair materials. There is roof damage all over the island from Yamacraw to Lyford Cay. In some parts of the south virtually every single roof has been damaged. And some homeowners also have to contend with flood damage which led to the loss of furniture, electronics and personal items. The only thing that is not in short supply right now is work.

Well I drove to Clifton and BEC was in a mess. A wave did come in and damage the power plant. But there were crews out there replanting poles that were broken and running new wires. There was also a fuel tanker delivering fue. So there is definitely no shortage. But part of what is causing the long lines is because so much of the power is still off. Some people are using their cars to charge their phones, to listen to the news or to escape the heat by running the a/c. They also need fuel for generators. Power in some areas have been off for almost a week so persons with generator have to refill their tanks. Since Clifton is still being repaired, BPL may have to do load shedding as more customers are put back on the grid.

The government has released statements saying there is no shortage of fuel and that persons are creating a problem by panicking and making a run on gas stations. Some are going back and forth hoarding and stockpiling gas and diesel. All the news media, newspapers radio stations tv and social media need to get the message out that there is no shortage of fuel.

SO WHY Don't someone from government with some credibility go in the media and assure the Bahamian public that there is no fuel shortages and rather than gang bangin at the gas stations they need to carry their hip home. Rumors about that the fuel terminal at Clifton has been destroyed and once gas stations run out of what gas they have, there will be no more. The facts are the gas companies have reserve fuels and a contingency plan. So they will rig up something to get fuel off the tankers so there is no need to tow lines or panick Jed.!!