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The People’s Paper
Hurricane Special Edition
A day for heroes
Volume: 112 No.210
MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2016
RESIDENTS banding together to clean up debris in Grand Bahama, on a day when Prime Minister Perry Christie called for Bahamians to show an “indomitable spirit”. Photo: Vandyke Hepburn
PM warns of high cost of hurricane recovery By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie last night described the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew as “utterly devastating” as he estimated the total cost of repairs to be three or four times higher than the $100m in damages left by Hurricane Joaquin last year. At a press conference at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Christie said the infrastructure in North Andros, Grand Bahama and New Providence were “relatively intact,” however he said there was “enormous loss” of personal items and scores of homes were “substantially damaged” by flooding.
Because of this, Mr Christie said the government has issued an exigency order, effective on Tuesday, to allow for specific tax exemptions on goods imported for rebuilding purposes as well as water, tarp, and some “personal items”. The prime minister also said that given the economic cost of this disaster, which came a year after Hurricane Joaquin devastated the southern islands, the government is exploring the option of issuing a hurricane recovery and reconstruction bond. The purpose of the bond, according to Mr Christie, is “to have an accelerated reconstruction programme, provide assistance to individuals impacted by the hurricane and to provide assistance to small and me-
dium sized businesses.” “Let me tell you how serious our challenges are, we estimated after Hurricane Joaquin that the cost was over $100m,” Mr Christie said. “You can identify or multiply, two times, three times, four times - this cost is going to be very much more than Joaquin. Enormous damage has been inflicted on thousands of Bahamians, who were not so affected in such number with Hurricane Joaquin,” Mr Christie said. The prime minister also pointed out that only NEMA-approved donations will be allowed the “benefit” of being brought into the country, “duty free, VAT free and with no processing fee”. “We recognise that some
FNM: Declare disaster areas - page four Insurers prepare for record loss - page five Relief efforts begin - page eight Andros suffers brunt of impact - page 16
people may claim that they have spent money that could be covered by the order before the order is promulgated on Tuesday,” Mr Christie added. “So the Ministry of Finance, we have agreed to cover the period between the commencement of hurricane conditions and Tuesday when the exigency order will take effect upon proof and certification that it conforms with the requirement. “The clearance of all relief supplies should be accompanied by a C-13 Home Consumption Form, in addition all goods should be properly manifested. Supplies assigned to NEMA would be granted duty and vat free privilege. In addition, no processing fee would be assessed for these goods. Emergency supplies such as water, tarp, generators, personal building supplies not assigned to NEMA or a recognised charity should be released upon confirmation from NEMA, SEE PAGE FIVE
PRICE – $1 (Family Islands $1.50)
GRAND BAHAMA WAS DEVASTATED BY STORM
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
RESIDENTS in Grand Bahama say they can’t recall a more damaging hurricane on their island than Hurricane Matthew, the category four storm with 140mph winds that barreled through the island late Thursday. The storm flattened houses and tore roofs off buildings, leaving many without homes on an island that is still struggling to rebound from the economic devastation wrought by Hurricanes Jeanne and Frances in 2004. One island official estimated that Grand Bahama could be without power for up to seven weeks, but expressed optimism that the restoration would not take that long. “We have more damage now than we had following Hurricane Frances,” said West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe, referring to the storm that killed two people and flooded much of the island. “The settlements in West End itself were se-
verely damaged,” he said. “We lost many homes and saw many businesses literally blown away. The oldest hotel in the country, though many decades old, is still standing but was severely damaged.” Mr Wilchcombe said thousands of people have been impacted in Grand Bahama by the ferocious storm. “Eight Mile Rock alone is the largest single settlement in the country, so about 20,000 plus people have been affected,” Mr Wilchcombe said. “Holmes Rock, Sea Grape, Hannah Hill, all the areas, including Little Bay - all received damage during the hurricane,” Mr Wilchcombe said. “Large numbers of homes have lost roofs and it’s a time when the community must come together and work. “We have put together an area in a church that’s beginning to feed people, provide water and comfort,” the minister of tourism added. “We are receiving assistance and there are mission flights coming in from the US. There will always be shortages but we’ll make do with what we have. SEE PAGES TWO & THREE
BAHAMIANS TOLD TO STOP PANICKING OVER FUEL SUPPLY By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
SIR Franklyn Wilson yesterday urged Bahamians to “stop panicking” over a nonexistent fuel shortage, dis-
closing that his company was offloading 700,000 gallons from a newly-arrived tanker. The chairman of FOCOL Holdings, the BISX-listed Shell distributor, told New Providence residents to stop clogging roads and gasoline
stations over unfounded rumours, and instead facilitate post-Matthew commerce and recovery efforts. “Please be advised that a ship with hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel arrived at Clifton this morning for
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
Sun Oil,” Sir Franklyn wrote in an e-mail to The Tribune and others. “Spreading of the word of this reality may assist in the restoration of normalcy in the purchasing of fuel.” SEE PAGE ONE
PAGE 2 , Monday, October 10, 2016
STORM damage in Grand Bahama yesterday - with the island having been devastated by the effects of Hurricane Matthew.
THE TRIBUNE
Photos: Vandyke Hepburn
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, October 10, 2016, PAGE 3
THE WRECKAGE of a bar in Grand Bahama after Hurricane Matthew struck the island.
Photos: Vandyke Hepburn
Grand Bahama was devastated by storm from page one “At the moment, we’re working hard to get out to the people and meet them where they are. They community is holding tight, holding together. We were able to clear up the main streets and villages. We’re removing conch shells and dealing with the large quantities of debris that’s all over the place. We’re moving boats that were in the water but now are on land and in settlements,” Mr Wilchcombe said.
DEVASTATION Preston Cunningham, administrator for Freeport, also expressed alarm at the destruction. He has been in three major hurricanes in his life, including Hurricane Joaquin when it devastated Acklins last year.
A HOME struck by a tree in Grand Bahama. The damage from Matthew in Grand Bahama, however, is the worst he has ever experienced. He told The Tribune on Sunday: “It’s a heck of a time in Grand Bahama.” “In West Grand Bahama, everyone got hit,” Mr Cunningham added. “Some homes fell flat to the ground. In Port Lucaya, the marketplace roof peeled right off. It looks like an earthquake around here almost.” Scores of Grand Bahama residents are still in shelters around the island, after los-
ing their homes during the storm. “We continually manage a few shelters for those who have been displaced,” Mr Cunningham said. “We will seek to bring relief for as long as we can until we can come to a decision about what to do about people in shelters.” However, a major shelter, a gymnasium, was compromised during the storm, causing people to leave. Many who have been displaced are staying with family and friends now. Mr Cunningham added
A SHATTERED building in Grand Bahama.
that people on the island need drinking water and ice, and said even though the airport in Grand Bahama is closed to international travel for now, officials will work to make it available for people coming in with relief supplies so long as they give advance notice of their intentions. The airport is open from sunrise to sunset for general aviation and domestic flights only, according to government officials. Harvey Roberts, administrator for East Grand Bahama, said to The Tribune that the island could be without electricity for as long as “six to seven weeks.” “A company out of Tampa brought their trucks already lined up in the harbour to help,” he added, “so maybe it won’t take as long as that.” The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) also began its assessments of North Andros
and Grand Bahama on Saturday, as those areas were hardest hit by Matthew’s 140mph winds. New Providence also experienced significant damage from the storm. In a statement, NEMA said a team that included Prime Minister Perry Christie would “quickly assess the damage of infrastructure, see how many people are displaced and inspect critical facilities with a view to how quickly life can be restored to some sense of normalcy.” “NEMA has also mobilised officials to the most significantly impacted areas on New Providence, specifically Marshall Road, Misty Gardens, Pastel Gardens, and other areas along the south and southwest shores to assess damage and to make recommendations to the government regarding relief, recovery and reconstruction,” the statement said.
HURRICANE BRIEFS BAHAMASAIR has announced that it will operate a limited daily service between Nassau and Freeport, Grand Bahama, until further notice. Flights from Nassau to Freeport will leave at 7am, 12.30pm and 4pm. Flights from Freeport to Nassau will depart at 8am, 1.45pm and 5.15pm. Passengers travelling from Freeport are asked to check in at the Western Air Terminal. Bahamasair’s international service will commence once the all clear has been granted by the respective government and regulatory agencies. The return Bahamasair flight for Bahamian students who were evacuated last Saturday from Jamaica left Nassau yesterday morning for Kingston.
RESIDENTS starting to clear up after the storm in Grand Bahama.
BUSINESSMAN URGES GRAND BAHAMIANS NOT TO GIVE UP IN WAKE OF HURRICANE MATTHEW By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
GRAND Bahamians impacted by Hurricane Matthew were told by one of their own to remain encouraged and not give up as they begin to rebuild their lives. Andrew Forbes, an entrepreneur based in Freeport, told The Tribune on Sunday that residents are down but not out. The founder of Events by Creme de la Creme said the island had spent “the better part of about 12 years trying to rebuild since the hurricanes of 2004” and was saddened that his community is having to relive the trauma again.
“We’d been making some headway but sluggishly. However we hadn’t fully rebounded economically,” Mr Forbes said. “Some of us still carry the mental stress and the pain from the massive loss of property. Even as it relates to the landscape, Grand Bahama is one of those islands that has always been known for its beauty. And the storm that approached Grand Bahama on Thursday - Matthew - here it is 12 years later in 2016 has brought back so many fresh memories and has opened up wounds that have not even properly healed. “As I ride through the island and I see the level
of structural damage and devastation and as I look at some of the residents who are pretty much standing in there front yards and walking along the streets just looking lost, as where to go from here and how to start over, it’s quite the blow,” he admitted. “I can only encourage everyone that we have to bounce back. We have to continue to try restore magic to ‘Magic City,’” he stressed. The island has struggled to grow its economy since the passing of Hurricanes Jeanne and Frances in September 2004. The economic dilemma was intensified by the global financial crisis in 2008.
Hurricane Matthew damaged more than 90 per cent of the buildings in the Eight Mile Rock and Holmes Rock areas. A senior police officer told The Tribune on Friday that more than 72 homes reported experiencing significant roof damage from Matthew although that did not include the western area of the island, which also experienced destruction. Mr Forbes said he too suffered damage to his of-
fice studio and inventory is life itself,” he said. “So “but above all we still have we’ll begin the rebuilding life which is most impor- process to move forward. tant.” We may be down but we’re “The physical things, as not out and so we’re going hard as we work for them, to do our best to move foras much as we cherish them, ward and help as many peothey pale in comparison to ple as we can in the process the treasure and Friday, jewel 7th thatOctober as we help ourselves.” 2016
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PAGE 4 , Monday, October 10, 2016
HURRICANE BRIEFS THE government has postponed the official ceremony to mark National Heroes Day in the Bahamas today, the Cabinet Office announced yesterday. A statement read: “Monday 10 October is National Heroes Day in The Bahamas, a public holiday. Bahamians are reminded to remember all those who helped to build our nation. “The general public is advised that Cabinet at its meeting on 7th October agreed to postpone the ceremony that was to have taken place 10 October at the Botanic Gardens in observance of National Heroes Day. This is so that all the military and public agencies together with the civilian authorities can concentrate on the hurricane recovery. “The Government pays tribute to all those who helped to build our nation. We are certain that in this post hurricane phase when we face the challenges of recovery, new heroines and heroes will emerge. Let us remember those who gave to this nation before us and let us pray for those who will help to build our nation in the future. As we go to church today let us pray for the builders of the nation and for its recovery. Each one is encouraged to do so today on the eve of National Heroes Day, remembering our blessings and those who brought us here and praying for our future. “As soon as the new date for the ceremony has been set, the general public will be advised.”
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS Bahamas Meteorology Department - 356-3734/3724/3727 National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) - 3226081/6082/6083/6084/6085 Fire Branch of the Royal Bahamas Police Force - 322-1225, 302-8404 Royal Bahamas Police Force - 919, 911, 322-4444 Environmental Heath Servies - 322-8037/8048/8049 Bahamas Red Cross - 3237370/7371/7372/7373/7374 Department of Social Services - 323-7814/7815, 322-3348
THE TRIBUNE
CARTOONIST Jamaal Rolle provided his own illustration of the task that lies ahead - even as the effects of the storm were being felt on New Providence. Mr Rolle posted the image to Facebook with the comment “Through love and unity.” Email Jamaal Rolle at jrolle@tribunemedia.net
FNM CALL TO DESIGNATE DISASTER AREAS By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis has called on the Christie administration to declare all of the areas devastated by Hurricane Matthew “disaster areas”, insisting that the move should be paired with robust exigency orders and extensive rate cuts by financial institutions and private business to “help rebuild the country and keep Bahamians safe”. In a statement yesterday, the Killarney MP urged immediate action, claiming that despite its sheer strength, Hurricane Matthew was unable to break the resiliency of the Bahamian people. Dr Minnis said after viewing the devastation of the massive category four storm first hand, he feels it necessary for the country to declare a state of emergency, granting it possible for immediate issuance of an exigency orders to allow homes, its contents, vehicles and or its parts that have been damaged or destroyed, to be replaced duty and VAT free. Dr Minnis said these orders should remain in place for at least six months. Further to that, he strongly encouraged all financial institutions to provide funding for replacement equipment or materials at reduced rates in these cases. Dr Minnis’ statement read: “We need to take steps together to see that everyone gets back on their feet as quickly as possible in order for all Bahamians to recover. These two easy recommendations will alleviate a huge burden on Bahamians who must work to rebuild their lives and I think we can all agree that now is not time for anyone –
STANDING in a damaged home in Lowe Sound, North Andros, Dr Hubert Minnis and Prime Minister Perry Christie share concerns over the massive destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew during an assessment trip on Saturday. Photo: NEMA either government or financial institution – to profit off the suffering and hardship of Bahamians in need. And while we all thank God that there have been no major injuries or deaths in the initial aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, I believe there are several other ways to ensure that we continue to safeguard our communities and the people.” Dr Minnis went on to recommend that the government advise individuals whose homes or businesses have been severely damaged not occupy such facilities until declared structurally sound. He also called for the government to advise Bahamians not to drink well
water unless - and until - it has been properly tested because it could be contaminated from the flooding, and urged immediate fogging in areas that were flooded to prevent against mosquito borne diseases including the Zika virus. “It has been a horrific few days for Bahamians across our islands but thankfully there has not been any reported loss of life. We will get through this by working together with our neighbours, friends, and families to help each other rebuild. And I believe these recommendations can be solid first steps that the Government can take to meet those ends and to help Bahamians start to recover.”
“I wish to commend NEMA, our law enforcement agencies, and the many volunteers, for their combined efforts in working together, rescuing those in danger, and keeping our people safe. May God continue to bless our Bahamamaland,” the statement concluded. In the wake of Hurricane Joaquin, the massive storm that ravaged the central and southern Bahamas for two days last year, Prime Minister Perry Christie declared an exigency order within a week of the storm’s passage. The order covered relief for residents in Acklins, Cat Island, Crooked Island, Exuma, Inagua, Long Cay, Long Island, Mayaguana,
Rum Cay, Ragged Island, Samana Cay and San Salvador. The import of goods with tax exemptions was permitted for a period of 90 days beginning October 3, and further exemptions were given on motor vehicles. Additionally, the government declared the waiver of landing fees, departure tax for non-commercial flights bringing in relief goods, and Department of Customs processing fees on imports in the above-mentioned islands for a period of one month. The islands of Acklins, Crooked Island, and Long Cay were also declared sufferance port areas for a period of three months.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, October 10, 2016, PAGE 5
Insurers expect record loss By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
HURRICANE Matthew will likely produce the largest-ever Bahamian insurance industry loss from a single event, a top executive said yesterday. Patrick Ward, Bahamas First’s president and chief executive, told The Tribune that the total claims payout was likely to exceed the previous record set in 2004 by the combination of Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. While unwilling to give figures, Mr Ward added that the property and casualty insurer - and all rival underwriters - were anticipating “a significant number of claims” from Bahamian homeowners and businesses. And, looking to the future, the Bahamas First principal warned that catastrophe insurance costs (premium prices) were like-
ly to rise locally as a result of the damage Matthew has inflicted along the southeastern United States coast. “This is probably going to be the most expensive claim The Bahamas has ever had for one single event,” Mr Ward said of the devastation inflicted by Hurricane Matthew. Comparing the storm’s impact to the insured losses inflicted by Hurricanes Jeanne and Frances in 2004, he added: “This has the potential to exceed the payout from both those events combined.” This means that Bahamian property and casualty underwriters are collectively looking at a nine-figure payout to storm-ravaged victims. The insurance market’s loss is especially severe because of the track taken by Hurricane Matthew as it passed close to The Bahamas’ two main population centres - Nassau and Free-
port - where coverage penetration is highest. Few storms, especially one of Matthew’s strength, strike both The Bahamas’ main cities, the last one to achieve this being Hurricane Frances in 2004. “I wouldn’t want to put a number on it yet,” Mr Ward said of the potential insurance payouts, “but it’s a storm that created widespread damage in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Andros and Exuma. It has caused a massive amount of damage to infrastructure, personal property and commercial property. We’re anticipating a significant number of claims.” Mr Ward said Bahamas First had already been fielding claims inquiries from clients, and will open its office today to begin processing and receiving them. The offices of its affiliate, NUA Insurance Brokers and Agent, on Collins Avenue
and Carmichael Road will also be open. Other insurers also set to open on National Heroes Day, a public holiday, are RoyalStar Assurance and Insurance Management. Mr Ward said Bahamas First had already met with the loss adjusters it has hired to assess damages claims, and will also “get the ball rolling” on inspections today. “We’re fortunate to some extent that the amount of rainfall was not significant in this particular storm, which assisted with flooding impacts outside the coastal areas,” he added, “and the fact this was relatively fastmoving.” Insurance industry sources expect the majority of the most serious claims to come from New Providence’s southern shore, and areas such as Coral Harbour, South Beach, Pinewood, Marshall Road and Yamacraw.
These communities were among those hardest hit by Matthew’s storm surges and flooding, as it raced over New Providence as a major Category 4 storm. Grand Bahama, and Freeport, are likely to be the other major claims sources, given that Matthew had gained strength when it hit the island. Mr Ward said that with The Bahamas being among the Caribbean leaders for insurance penetration, “a significant amount” of Matthew’s damages were likely to be covered. “We want to stress to the public that we are ready to move ahead,” he told The Tribune. “We have people in the field. At the same time, we would stress to people to take whatever steps are necessary to protect and secure their property. We can still make a determination [as to loss/ damages] even if they have done some remediation ac-
SHANE GIBSON, Minister of Labour and National Insurance, pictured alongside Captain Stephen Russell, of NEMA at last night’s press conference. nated up to a maximum Customs emergency numrelief fund.” Any donation of $1,000 of $100,000, Mr Christie bers at 377-7027 or 3777030 In New Providence or more shall receive a tax said. For more information, or the local Customs office rebate on business license fees equivalent to 10 per residents are asked to con- in Grand Bahama and the cent for the amount do- tact the Department of Family Islands.
PRIME Minister Perry Christie at yesterday’s press conference to discuss the effects of Hurricane Matthew, and the Bahamian response. Photos: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff
PM WARNS OF HIGH COST OF HURRICANE RECOVERY from page one
therefore any unauthorised purchase or importation must ultimately be approved by NEMA if you are going to access the privileges offered by the Ministry of Finance.” Mr Christie also said the government has agreed, with the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation, to provide tax rebates for donations from the private sector from businesses who donate to either the Bahamas Government Donation Account, the Rebuild Bahamas Account or “any other government approved
FLOODING in New Providence yesterday.
Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
RESIDENTS in Grand Bahama attending church yesterday despite storm damage. Photo: Vandyke Hepburn
A COFFIN emerged from a grave in New Providence during Hurricane Matthew.
tions.” Mr Ward, though, warned that the damage inflicted by Matthew on the US coastline between Florida and the Carolinas could impact future Bahamian property and casualty premium rates. Bahamian insurers buy vast quantities of reinsurance from the global markets to help them underwrite risks in this nation, meaning that premium rates in this nation are largely determined by foreign reinsurers. Should Matthew create a major reinsurance market loss, that will have the effect of sparking reinsurers to demand higher prices from their partner carriers, including those in The Bahamas. “The average consumer in The Bahamas should be prudent in anticipating there might be some movement on premiums,” Mr Ward said.
PAGE 6 , Monday, October 10, 2016
DAMAGE in New Providence following the impact of Hurricane Matthew.
THE TRIBUNE
Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
DAMAGE to the jetty at Clifton - but gas supplies are not at risk, companies have insisted.
POWER lines down in New Providence yesterday.
Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
A MAN at work repairing a roof yesterday.
Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
DETAILS OF SCHOOL OPENINGS ANNOUNCED THE Ministry of Education announced last night that initial assessments have been conducted and students in several districts and islands are able to return to school on Tuesday. These include Abaco, Acklins, South Andros and Mangrove Cay, Bimini, Cat Island, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, Inagua, Long Island, Mayaguana, Ragged Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador. The statement stressed that no public schools will open on the islands of New Providence, North Andros, Berry Islands and Grand Bahama, until further notice. Details regarding the opening of schools on these districts and islands will be given as soon as they are available. “Until such time, students and teachers are to re-
main at home until schools are ready for normal operation,” the ministry said. “Teachers will be contacted by their administrators as well as through media notices informing them when they are to report for duty. “We also wish to emphasise that private and independent schools will determine when they are in a position to resume operation and will provide the public with notices accordingly. “We wish to assure the public that we are working aggressively to return school campuses to a state of normalcy. It is also important to note that the opening of school is also contingent on power and water supplies being restored to campuses. “Additionally, safety remains a priority and we do not want children return-
ing to school until all fallen trees, power, cable, and telephone lines along with debris have been cleared from the school campuses,” the ministry said. At a press conference at the National Emergency Management Agency last night, Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald said the government has been able to survey the exterior of public schools impacted by Hurricane Matthew, adding that further assessments of the interior of these building will be undertaken today. Further information wil be given on Tuesday. Mr Fitzgerald said the ministry will work aggressively to return schools to a state of normalcy. For more information, visit the ministry’s Facebook page.
ELEUTHERA SPARED WORST OF STORM By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
ELEUTHERA appeared to have escaped the brunt of damage brought on by Hurricane Matthew, some residents told The Tribune on Friday. Theo Neilly, outgoing Member of Parliament for North Eleuthera and resident of Current Island said he received periodic updates on how north Eleuthera did under the threat of a powerful storm. “I haven’t been able to get to all parts of the island as yet but I’ve gotten some updates” he said.
“Thankfully, there’s not much damage to report. Some power lines are down as well as trees. Current Island still does not have electricity and we lost the government dock but other than that not much damage.” “I’m told the reports are the same for the Central and South are the same in terms of minimal damage but I’m not entirely sure” he added. Filmmaker Kareem Mortimer, who resides just north of Governor’s Harbour, told The Tribune “there’s not as much damage to the environment thankfully”. “I wasn’t particularly
worried because we just got the outer bands from the storm. But I’m more concerned for my family in Nassau at the moment.” Mr Mortimer had been in Eleuthera by the time the storm was on track to hit the Bahamas. Jerreth Albury said his community fared “pretty well in Lower Bogue”. “Shops are open as well as the gas station and restaurants. It seemed to be only a rain storm for our island though from what I’m told happened in the other parts.” He also expressed gratitude that airports on his island were operational.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, October 10, 2016, PAGE 7
NEW PROVIDENCE HAS 15-20% OF POWER RESTORED
BPL HAS RESTORED POWER TO THE FOLLOWING AREAS: Blue Hill Road South-Golden Gates 1 & 2
By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
Carmichael Road West
BAHAMAS Power and Light (BPL) CEO Pamela Hill said the electricity provider has restored around 15 to 20 per cent of New Providence’s electricity supply by Saturday as it juggles infrastructural damage and challenges at its Clifton Pier generation station in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. However, according to Shevonn Cambridge, BPL’s Deputy General Manager of Engineering and Operations, it could take another three days before about 70 per cent of the capital’s power is restored. During a tour of several of BPL’s problem areas - including Bain Town and Fox Hill - and its Clifton station on Saturday, Craig Knowles, assistant engineer with responsibility for overhead construction, explained that BPL’s work has been hindered by several factors, which include first having to trim trees blown down by Matthew’s vicious winds before work to downed poles can begin and heavy traffic on the streets as motorists scramble around for essentials. And while the jetty at Clifton Pier has been confirmed as severely damaged, BPL said that will in no way affect their fuel supply, noting that despite the jetty issue there are other ways to get fuel onto the island. To that end, BPL is working on an alternative plan, even though the company says it has sufficient fuel to ensure they are operational for a long time. Still, Mrs Hill appealed for consumers to exercise patience as BPL takes the next several days to re-energise areas around the
Carmichael Road East Silver Gates West Bay Street-between Nassau Street and Sea View Drive. West Bays Street from Nassau Street to the Hilton Hotel capital that have continuously been without power supply since the monster storm hit the island three days ago. She said: “As far as the power and the restoration effort is of right now we’ve got about 15 to 20 per cent of the island restored and that restoration has been phased. “Our first focus has been on the critical infrastructure. “As you can imagine it is key that we have our hospitals with power and so we have been able to do that. “Likewise key is the police station and other infrastructure. We have been working closely with the water authority in order to bring that online so that’s been our first order of business. “From there it’s been to focus on our transmission to make sure that the generation is OK (at Clifton Pier). Same thing at Blue Hills.” She continued: “Next thing that we are going to be doing is now that we have done just about all of our assessment in your neigbourhoods is to begin our restoration of the transmission line themselves and from there to move on to distribution. “In terms of how long this will take first thing I want to urge is patience as well as support in helping to make sure that critical areas that our crews will need to access are kept clear.
Nassau Street North Infant View Road BAHAMAS Power and Light CEO Pamela Hill speaks to the media on Saturday (left) as staff work to restore power (above and far left).
“Second thing that I want to urge is if you see lines that are lying on the ground that seem to be causing some kind of impediment to your house or other area to please stay clear of that. “We are in the process of testing and energising these lines and would not want anyone to be hurt as we move through that process.” Meanwhile, Mr Cambridge suggested that BPL is doing well in terms of ensuring the needed megawatts of power supply are achieved. He said despite having to undertake a massive cleanup effort at the Clifton Pier plant, BPL has been able to secure 110 of the 177 megawatts capability from this facility. “We have done a lot of the clean up and we’ve got our engines here prepped to start.,” he said. “We have roughly 177 megawatts installed here (at Clifton Pier) and out of that we have 110 that is ready to go right now. So we don’t foresee any generation challenges.
“Also at our other facility at Blue Hills by the end of the day we should have 100 megawatts there to go as well so we don’t anticipate any generation problems. “But as you can see we have a lot of work a head of us in terms of cleaning up and really getting the place back to where it needs to be. “It’s basically getting the power out of the power station and up town to our distribution centres. “We have our primary substations and from there we distribute to the other small substations and then down to the consumer level so its a tiered approach. “You go from the high end and you come down and that’s the approach that we are taking now.” Asked to place a time frame on BPL’s work, Mr Cambridge said: “All the customers is a stretch, but I can tell you we probably will have about 75 to 80 per cent of the customers back within the next three days or so. “It’s that last 20 per cent that’s really going to take an extra couple of days.”
West Bay Street Winton - Portion of Eastwood Subdivision Prince Charles East - Main Prince Charles Drive Downtown Nassau Sands Lane Dowdeswell Street Doctors Hospital Princess Margaret Hospital Financial Center Shirley Street from Elizabeth Avenue to School Lane Main Post Office Victoria Gardens Bay Street Charlotte Street Westridge South Westridge Killarney Shores Sandyport Skyline Lakes Subdivision Skyline Drive Sandals Hotel Breezes Hotel
28% OF CABLE BAHAMAS CUSTOMERS HAVE SERVICE NEMA GIVES UPDATE ON WATER AND SEWERAGE CABLE Bahamas says that it has service to 28 per cent of its customers in New Providence as it works alongside the Bahamas Power & Light Company and the Grand Bahama Power Company to restore all services. A company update posted on its Facebook page yesterday afternoon said that once the local power companies have restored power to neighbourhoods, the company’s technical teams will be able to restore REV services. Of the 22 islands affected by Hurricane full free-toair services have been restored to Matthew Moore’s Island, Guana Cay, Exuma, Mayaguana, Inagua, Ragged Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, Rum Cay, Cat Island, Abaco and Eleuthera. The company said 86 per cent of the country had freeto-air services currently and that assessments are currently being conducted on Andros, Berry Islands, Bimini and Grand Bahama. Red Bays and Farmer’s Cay were
AREAS BEING WORKED ON Carmichael West S C McPherson Fire Trail Local Tyke Abundant Life Churchill Blue Hill North Bamboo Boulevard Solider Road West South Beach Estates Lyford Cay Clifton SW/STN Stuart Cove’s Coral Harbour still down. “Some customers may receive power from generators and wonder why they still do not receive service. This is because the nodes will have to receive power in order for the services to be restored,” the post read. In isolated cases where power may be up but services not currently active the numbers to call are: New Providence – 601-2200, Grand
West Bay Teed Yamacraw West Yamacraw East Fox Hill South Eastern Estates Adam Street Joe Farrington Road Chippingham Road Harbourside West Bay Lilly Drive Kent Drive Dowdeswell Street Big Pond area Bahama – 602-8800 and the Family Islands – 1-242-3002200 (toll-free) A company statement earlier said the outages “are primarily related to power interruptions and downed distribution lines that are impacted by falling trees. The gusting winds, which blew rain, salt, sand and debris around, will have varying degrees of effect on the company’s systems.”
BAHAMIANS TOLD TO STOP PANICKING OVER FUEL SUPPLY
THE National Emergency Management Agency released an update on Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) services on Saturday. The Windsor desalination plant suffered major roof damage which resulted in damage to some damage to the plant’s electronic equipment. The plant was anticipated to resume operations on Saturday. Failure of a generator at Windsor late on Friday affected 25 per cent of New Providence - these areas experienced reduced service as a result. WSC expects to source a suitably sized portable generator locally and have normal service restored as quickly as possible. The Blue Hills desalination plant is operational and producing at 90 per cent of maximum capacity. Supplies from this plant increased after the Windsor plant failure and, as a result, it cannot meet the full island demand. The generator at Blue Hills is also experiencing challenges. This will affect the remaining 75 per cent of the island - but this has been temporarily resolved. WSC is working closely with Bahamas Power & Light to restore normal power to these critical facilities. Service to non-essential areas has been reduced. With regards to sewerage, there are over 100 sewerage liftstations fully dependent on BPL’s power supply; WSC teams began assessments and operations of these liftstations using portable generators Friday and this will continue through the weekend. FAMILY ISLANDS • Abaco: areas generally operational but some supplies were disrupted temporarily due to power supply challenges; These have now been substantively restored. • Acklins: temporary disruption but back in operation. • Andros Central: supplies off due to
Name: DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS; Width: 5.1997 in; Depth: 5 in; Ad Number: 00356384; Customer Name: -
LINES at a Shell gas station yesterday. FROM PAGE ONE Sir Franklyn confirmed to The Tribune that the tanker had brought 700,000 gallons to New Providence, and was being offloaded yesterday afternoon. He added that Shell/ FOCOL Holdings were planning to upload pictures of the vessel to their Facebook page, in a bid to halt a two-day stampede that has caused gridlock at gas stations across New Providence, coupled with long queues and traffic jams on the roads. “There is genuinely no need for panic,” Sir Franklyn said. “What we’re doing with this panic is in no one’s interests, and I would encourage all involved to stop it. It doesn’t matter whether it’s diesel, gasoline or propane. There is no shortage of supply. There are challenges to get the fuel from where it is to where we want it to be.” Sir Franklyn said Bahamians seemed to have assumed “there will be no fuel in town for a long time” as a result of seeing pictures of the destroyed Clifton jetty where supplies are typically unloaded from tankers. Emphasising that the three oil majors Shell (FOCOL/Sun Oil), Rubis and Esso (Sol Petroleum) - may all be experiencing different issues in Hurricane Matthew’s aftermath, Sir Franklyn pleaded with Bahamians to allow them more time to resolve the problems. In Sun Oil’s case, he explained that the
power supply disruptions; portable gensets and restoration crews being deployed for temporary relief. • South Andros: no major damage; system in operation. • North Andros: significant damage and flooding in pumping station; disruption in operation; significant power disruption in the area. Restoration crews deployed 07/08-Oct and system partially restored (25%). Water for community available at pumping station site. Significant leaks in system due to tree uprooting and other storm related damage. • Bimini: water supply now restored; was temporarily off due to power disruption. • Cat Island: no major problems. • Crooked Island: limited impact; system operational. • Eleuthera: Limited operations in North continue due to power supply challenges. • Central maintained supplies throughout and after hurricane; presently operating between stand by power and BPL. • Tarpum Bay/Rock Sound system now fully restored. • Exuma and the Cays: All systems operational; major damage to storage tank in Steventon. Black Point and Staniel Cay operational. • Farmers Cay off due to power disruption. No contact due to weather. • Williams Town occasionally on generator but supply levels being maintained. • Great Harbour Cay: no contact. • Inagua: supply disruption due to power loss which limits production capability; limited supply will be distributed until power restoration allows full production. • Long Cay: power restored and water supply back to normal. • Long Island: Deadman’s Cay fully operational; supply on from Grays to Turtle Cove Simms desalination plant backin operation. • Mayaguana: in operation. • San Salvador: temporary disruption but back in operation.
problems were located at its storage facility and fuel loading platform, where both the generator and its back-up had failed as a result of the storm. “You put in two to address the risk, and both are compromised,” Sir Franklyn explained. “As a result of that, it meant we could not load and re-load the delivery vehicles through the normal methods. We have had to do it using manual methods.” This, in turn, has increased the time required for Sun Oil to get product to its service stations and meet the skyrocketing demand. Sir Franklyn said Sun Oil was hoping to restore power to its loading bay by late yesterday afternoon, and praised the company’s staff for “yeoman’s work” in meeting all the pressures imposed upon them by Hurricane Matthew. He also revealed how Sun Oil had worked with other businesses to keep them supplied with fuel, and ensure they could operate following Matthew’s passage. Sir Franklyn explained how SuperValue owner, Rupert Roberts, had found a driver with a 1,000 gallon truck that was able to drive between all the chain’s stores and Sun Oil, constantly reloading to keep the supermarkets operational. He added that Sun Oil had also been “topping up the fire trucks” with gasoline until 9pm at night.
PAGE 8 , Monday, October 10, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
ATLANTIS CAMPAIGN TO RAISE FUNDS FOR HURRICANE REPAIRS
RELIEF EFFORT: Supplies from the Cayman Islands include 10 pallets of chainsaws, building materials and baby food items. Photo: Philip Cumming/The Tribune
Rotarians to the rescue By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net ROTARIANS in the Cayman Islands dispatched a shipment of hurricane relief supplies on Bahamasair planes to New Providence over the weekend which were collected yesterday morning. The supplies include 10 pallets of chainsaws, building materials and baby food items and will be stored at Bahamas Wholesale Agencies and distributed. Because the cargo was not manifested and no duty waiver signed by the Prime Minister, there were fears the supplies could be held up and subject to Value Added Tax. But interventions by Rotarians in the Bahamas on Saturday are understood to have ensured the supplies were available for collection by the Rotary Club of
East Nassau (RCEN). Diane de Cardenas, RCEN president, said yesterday: “There’s a process to go through before you could collect supplies. Rotary went through that process and people were able to collect their goods today. “It was in large thanks to a lot of government agencies, customs, Nassau Airport Development Company, Bahamasair that we were able to do that. There were no challenges in terms of taxes and duties. “People who were assigned to deal with it knew there was a process that had to be followed and they followed it. That meant it took longer for us to let people access the supplies than we would have liked but we were successful.” Ms De Cardenas said people will begin sorting through the supplies on Tuesday, handing clothing and food to the Salvation Army and Red Cross while
using building materials to help those the club has been referred to. “Rotary is not a first responder,” she noted. “We leave that to the NEMAs and that kind of thing. Our
focus is on long term funding and high dollar projects. We met today to discuss additional plans for projects the Bahamas needs. We’re waiting on full assessment of the hurricane’s impact.
Rotary does plan on being involved for the long term and putting in a significant amount of money and time into this but we’re waiting on the assessment to be finished.”
ATLANTIS Paradise Island has launched a fundraising campaign to provide relief for the recovery and rebuilding of the Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. President of Atlantis, Howard Karawan, announced yesterday that the resort will match all donations received dollar for dollar, with all of the proceeds going to the Bahamas Red Cross, up to $250,000. In a communication thanking guests and staff for their support and care during and after the storm as the clean up efforts continued, Mr Karawan said Atlantis was grateful that the resort had only been “minimally affected” but was aware that others in the Bahamas were not as fortunate. “Often thought of as just a small country, the Bahamas is actually comprised of more than 700 islands on 100,000 square miles of ocean. The infrastructure and homes for many did sustain significant damage,” Mr Karawan said. “Many of you have asked how you can help support the Bahamas recovery and rebuilding. Atlantis Paradise Island has launched a fundraising campaign to provide for this effort. Now through October 31st, Atlantis will match all donations received dollar for dollar, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Bahamas Red Cross, up to $250,000.” The communication gave a link to a youcaring.com donation site.
REDSKINS OWNER AND FLORIDIANS DONATE VITAL RELIEF SUPPLIES HELP for the Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Matthew is coming in from the United States, with the owner of the Washington Redskins NFL team and kind-hearted Floridians donating much needed relief supplies. Redskins owner Dan Synder and his wife, Tanya, flew in on a private jet filled with batteries, food, blankets, candies, non-perishable foods and even children’s games to deliver personally a load of supplies on Saturday. A team from the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (BMOT), including Permanent Secretary Harrison Thompson and Co-ordinator of the BMOT Emergency Coordinating Committee Geneva Cooper, was on hand to greet the Redskins. “We are grateful to our partners, the Washington Redskins, who wasted no time in offering assistance to the Islands of The Bahamas,” Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said. “This organisation led by example, mobilising immediately to bring relief to our people who are in need. “We know that there are many Bahamians who will benefit from these donations. We want to thank the Redskins, especially own-
TANYA SYNDER, owner of the Washington Redskins, delivered hurricane relief supplies at Odyssey Aviation in Nassau. She is pictured with Ministry of Tourism officials Geneva Cooper and Harrison Thompson. Photos: Travis Cartwright-Carroll WASHINGTON Redskins Senior Vice President of Communications Tony Wyllie, left, with Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Emergency Coordinating Committee Geneva Cooper, and Permanent Secretary Harrison Thompson. ers Daniel and Tanya Synder who are no strangers to our beautiful country. It is our hope that other organisations will follow the example set by the Redskins. I think it is safe to say that the Redskins organisation has gained even more Bahamian fans this football season.” Mr Synder said that although his team would play yesterday, beating the Baltimore Ravens 16-10, his
organisation knew it had to help the Bahamas. “We are very fortunate to have resources and the means to step in and make a difference in times of peril,” he said. “Even though we are not a relief organisation, I felt it was critically important for us to use our resources to help those affected by Hurricane Matthew.” Tony Wyllie, senior vice president of communica-
tions for the Redskins, said this was only the initial phase of the organisation’s efforts to assist the Bahamas. “Once we sit down and find out what the needs are. We’re going to come back,” Mr Wyllie said. The Ministry of Tourism recently signed a five-year partnership with the Redskins. As part of the partnership, the Redskins will hold an annual Washington Redskins Weekend in the
Bahamas featuring Doug Williams and other legendary players for its fans, friends and families. The Redskins will also hold a flag football game with its alumni against top Bahamian officials at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, as well as hold a youth football and cheerleading clinic in the Bahamas. The team will also put on a golf and fishing tournament as well as participate in other destination experiences. Meanwhile, nine Royal Bahamas Defence Force vessels departed Key West
bound for the Bahamas with relief supplies donated by Florida Keys residents and businesses for victims of Hurricane Matthew. Pallets stacked high with supplies collected from around the Keys were loaded on Friday at the US Navy’s Truman Harbor pier in Key West, where the vessels took refuge from Matthew last week. The supplies included 25,000 bottles of water, thousands of diapers, food and tools, all gathered within 24 hours and dropped off at local government centres in Islamorada, Marathon and Key West.
IN THIS photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, bottled water is loaded on a Royal Bahamas Defence Force ship on Friday in Key West, Florida. In less than 24 hours, Florida Keys residents donated some 25,000 bottles of water as well as diapers and other relief supplies which are to be transported to needy Bahamians. Nine Defence Force vessels took refuge at the U.S. Navy’s Truman Pier in Key West to escape the wrath of Hurricane Matthew. Key West was the only city in Florida, that fronts on the Atlantic Ocean, that was not under a tropical cyclone watch or warning due to Matthew. (Rob O’Neal/Florida Keys News Bureau via AP)
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, October 10, 2016, PAGE 9
A GYM FIT FOR PURPOSE IN TIME OF THE COUNTRY’S DESPERATE NEED Hurricane shelters in New Providence have proved invaluable to residents seeking refuge from Matthew, Tribune Chief Reporter Ava Turnquest finds
W
HEN Antionette Johnson saw reports that Hurricane Matthew would barrel through the Bahamas as a dangerous category four storm, she packed up her son and grandchild and headed to the nearest shelter. However, the 54-year-old dialysis patient said nothing could have prepared her for the intensity of the storm and the destruction left in its wake. Ms Johnson is among scores of Nassauvians who have been stranded in the same shelters where they took refuge as 140mph winds ripped through the island. “This is the worst one,” she said on Saturday, while sitting on a stack of mats on the floor at the Kendal G L Isaacs National Gymnasium. Ms Johnson and her family bunkered down at St Barnabas Parish on Blue Hill Road during the storm, but had to come to the gym after she discovered her two-bedroom, upstairs apartment in Wilson Tract had been flooded due to roof damage. She missed her Friday dialysis treatment, but noted that social workers had arranged for her to be treated on Sunday. “So right now I’m trying not to drink or eat anything just to keep it together until I can go (for treatment). I was so glad I came out of my house. We can’t complain, we are safe. Right now I’m just hanging in and hoping Social Services can do something for us.” On Saturday, nearly two days since the all clear was given, some 30 persons remained at the gym - attended by a team from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and
Culture, the National Sports Authority and the Department of Social Services. Post-storm, the gym became a place of refuge for those displaced by the storm as business and churches that served as shelters across the capital close to resume normal operations. At 3pm on Saturday, a representative from Social Services said that arrangements were being made to accommodate people displaced by the storm and stranded at the shelter. Shelter Manager Arthur Thompson Jr, said: “It’s about country at this time. We had a lot of devastation and it helped us to understand, we may be doing good but we don’t know how other people feel. A lot of people lost their homes from water, some people the defence force had to swim for them to bring them here. “People lost their roofs, their whole livelihood and they had nowhere to stay,” Mr Thompson Jr said. “We’ve been open since then just helping out people that need to put a cover over their head especially the kids. This is a very hard time, I wish everybody just come together and help out.” While more than 400 people were reportedly rescued during the storm, 37-yearold mother Stacy Murphy said she drove to the Kendal Isaacs gym in a car after the roof was damaged at the Meadow Street shelter she was staying at with her two sons. “We had to go up the wrong way on Meadow Street because there was nowhere to pass,” said Ms Murphy as she used flash cards to entertain her 15-month-old son, Reno. Her seven-year-old son was
ANTIONETTE JOHNSON, pictured here at the shelter at Kendal G L Isaacs National Gymnasium, said Hurricane Matthew was ‘the worst one’.
15-MONTH-OLD Reno Murphy at the shelter. playing basketball with a handful of children outside before intermittent rain forced them indoors.
“The Meadow Street shelter lost their roof and a lot of stuff too so they had to evacuate us. Oh the wind, it was so bad.” Stacy Murphy “The shelter there lost their roof and a lot of stuff too so they had to evacuate us,” she said. “Oh the wind, it was so bad.” Speaking about her time at the gym, Ms Murphy said: “A lot of people were here, we were in the middle of the floor. It was so cold, like a
MAN SOAKED BUT THANKFUL AFTER RIDING OUT HURRICANE IN A HUT ADELAIDE resident Livingston Rolle has told The Tribune that he had to ride out Hurricane Matthew in a small hut with no shingles on the roof. Mr Rolle said he did what he had to do and was thankful he survived.
He said there were holes in the roof so he was soaked, as were his clothes and bed. Adelaide was badly affected, with a coffin being pushed up out of a grave by the floodwaters (below right). Photos: Valden Fernander
cooler in here. But we had an awesome time, we’re having an awesome time.” Several rows away on the bleachers, Dellarise Forbes folds and sorts clothing for her eight children and husband. The family, whose youngest child is a sevenmonth-old boy, came from the St Mary’s Hall shelter in Fox Hill. Though the future is unclear, Ms Forbes said she was overwhelmingly grateful to God for the safety of her family. While only a handful of children remained, the gym hosted 43 during the storm. Judy Gilbert, a social worker, said: “I just was praying, the breeze was so strong and when the tin piece look like it had started to lift up on the side (of the building), I was so scared. I just had to pray the blood of Jesus. I began to pray.
SOME residents have remained at the Kendal G L Isaacs National Gymnasium after the storm. “The team here was so good, when they went outside they stood together and they made it happen. They secured that door and it was only God that kept us.” Ms Gilbert added: “This is the worst in all my 46 years. I have never seen it, never experienced this in my whole life. My back window, the board fall off the window, the front glass break and the fence came down, but I’m not even worrying about that. My life is more important than anything else, and once my family is safe I was cool. “I just wanted to really make sure everyone else was safe.” On Wednesday night, the gym housed 180 persons. But that number had swelled to 271 during the height of the storm as police and de-
fence force officers brought in rescue victims. Mr Thompson Jr said: “My staff and my team, we went above and beyond our own duty. We didn’t get supplies from NEMA, we purchased our own food to cook for the people. We cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We just went out and said we have to step up to the plate and look at the bill later. “Some people came here with the only clothes they could save. We had showers for them to bathe, just to make them feel comfortable. When you lose something in life that you’ve been working so hard for, the first thing you do is go into a state of depression,” he said. “We’re just trying to make people relaxed and comfortable.”
PAGE 10 , Monday, October 10, 2016
HURRICANE MATTHEW: THE AFTERMATH
THE TRIBUNE A STEEPLE hangs from St Gregory’s Church on Carmichael Road after the passing of Hurricane Matthew in Nassau. (AP Photo/Tim Aylen)
NEW providence
GARTH BUCKNER cuts up tree branches that were blown off his property to a major road after the passing of Hurricane Matthew. (AP Photo/Tim Aylen) FLOODING in Yamacraw after the hurricane.
A HAMMOCK hangs high in fallen trees on a beach on the southern shoreline of Nassau. (AP Photo/Tim Aylen) A STOP SIGN lays in a flooded street after the passing of Hurricane Matthew in Pinewood Gardens. (AP Photo/Tim Aylen)
WORKERS cutting fallen branches in Yamacraw. Photo: Shawn Hanna
DAMAGE to the South Beach area. Photo: Shawn Hanna
HURRICANE damage in South Beach.
Photo: Shawn Hanna
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, October 10, 2016, PAGE 11
SERVICES AT PUBLIC HOSPITALS HAVE RESUMED AFTER STORM By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
SERVICES at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre and Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama have resumed, Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) Managing Director Herbert Brown said. “Hospitals and clinics
within the PHA network incurred some damages due to heavy rain, high winds and flying debris,” he said in a statement last night. “An extensive structural assessment is now underway to determine any other damages. With respect to power supply, we are able to report that the Princess Margaret Hospital is now back on city power as of (Saturday). The Sandilands
Rehabilitation Centre and the Rand Memorial Hospital/Grand Bahama Services are operating exclusively on generator power supply.” Mr Brown said the clinic at West End in Grand Bahama has been relocated to the Eight Mile Rock Clinic because it received extensive damage from Hurricane Matthew. “Ophthalmology servic-
es, mammography services in Grand Bahama Health Services system have been suspended following extensive damages at the mammography centre; a resumption date will be announced following repairs.” The New Providence Community Counseling and Assessment Centre will resume normal services on Tuesday if power is restored, Mr Brown said.
“Due to damages sustained during Hurricane Matthew at the Outpatient Rehabilitation Services Building at Collins Avenue, all physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and paediatric services will commence on Wednesday at the Neurodevelopment Clinic, Delancey and Nassau Streets. Persons are being asked to call the Neurodevelopment Clinic at
326-8740 Tuesday morning at 9am to confirm appointments. “The managing director and the PHA family also take this opportunity to express profound gratitude to those staff members who left their families and homes to work on behalf of the Bahamian people in the best demonstration of service above self,” Mr Brown said.
Gas queues making it hard for Super Value to get fuel By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net SUPER VALUE owner Rupert Roberts said on Sunday that “it’s been a rough couple of days” since Hurricane Matthew hit, telling The Tribune that long lines from motorists clamouring at local gas stations has made it difficult for company representatives to get fuel for store generators. However he said this would not stop the food store chain from supplying Bahamians with the necessities needed to continue on after the passage of Hurricane Matthew. Representatives from other major food stores and restaurants - many of which reopened on Friday - also told The Tribune they will be open to the public during Monday’s National Heroes Day holiday. Mr Roberts admitted that operating on generators for the past few days has been difficult. “We are going to open tomorrow (Monday),” Mr Roberts confirmed. “Our major stores in Winton, the two in Cable Beach, top of the hill Mackey Street and Golden Gates will be open from 7am until 3pm while our smaller stores in the inner city communities will be open from 7am until 1pm,” he said. Mr Roberts said the stores lost some stock due to the hurricane but added that he is not concerned about inventory as “we keep a $10m stock in the warehouse and there’s a $15m to $20m stock in the stores.
ABOVE: There have been long lines for fuel in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. RIGHT: Empty shelves at the Super Value store at Cable Beach last night. “Most of our stores are still on generator and we’re having difficulty getting access to the fuel until power is back up in all stores. We’re going to try and remain open, forever if we have to. Thankfully, half of our stores have electricity now and that’s quite a relief but otherwise we’ve been scrapping to get fuel for the generators. “The problem is getting fuel because traffic is blocked up,” he said, referring to the long queues of people lined up at gas stations in New Providence since Friday. “The generators are sucking a lot of the emergency fuel from the reserves we’d had and it’s difficult getting access to the big tankers right now. I was hoping by yesterday (Saturday) that
power would be back up in all of the stores but it didn’t. It’s been a rough couple days but we see some light at the end of the tunnel,” he added. Shonalee Johnson, a managing partner at AML Foods Ltd, also confirmed that their stores and affiliated restaurants will be open for Monday’s holiday. Solomon’s Fresh Market, Solomon’s Supercentre, Cost Right, Dominoes and Carl’s Jr have “all been open since Friday and they will be open for tomorrow’s public holiday,” she said. She could not say definitely if all the outlets had electricity but said most of them have been operating on generators. Meanwhile, residents in need of rebuilding mate-
rial may have to wait as the island’s largest building materials supplier, Pinder’s Enterprises, will not open until Tuesday, October 11. The company’s General Manager Adam Darville told The Tribune that his staff needed rest. “It’s not because we are running low on stock,” he said. “My staff is exhausted and they deserve and need rest. But we have plenty materials, more than enough,” he stressed. Matthew pummelled New Providence on Thursday, damaging homes and businesses, uprooting trees and snapping power lines. Many have been without power and running water since Wednesday, as utility providers work to restore normalcy.
HURRICANE MATTHEW: THE AFTERMATH
NEW providence
LEFT: A resident wades through flood waters left by Hurricane Matthew. ABOVE: Work begins on repairs to this home. BELOW LEFT: Many roads have been blocked by fallen trees and branches. BELOW RIGHT: An overturned boat in flood waters. Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune staff
PAGE 12 Monday, October 10, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
HURRICANE MATTHEW: THE AFTERMATH
NEW PROVIDENCE
DAMAGE at the United Fellowship Outreach Ministries International on South Beach Road and, below, people returning the altar to the church after it was blown into an adjacent property.
CONCH shells thrown up along the shore on Montagu on Friday in the wake of Hurricane Matthew’s passing.
PHOTOGRAPHS from South Beach, above, and Yamacraw, below, pictured on Friday. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
A CHILD’s toy retrieved from the storm.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, October 10, 2016, PAGE 13
HURRICANE MATTHEW: THE AFTERMATH
YAMACRAW
TIME TO REBUILD: Residents of Yamacraw - one of the hardest hit areas in Nassau - clean up yesterday after Hurricane Matthew ravaged the southeastern end of the island. Photos by Shawn Hanna/The Tribune
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, October 10, 2016, PAGE 15
HURRICANE MATTHEW: THE AFTERMATH
FOX HILL
CLEAN UP began on Fox Hill Park yesterday after devastating damages left by Hurricane Matthew. Photos by Shawn Hanna/The Tribune
THe WeaTHer repOrT
5-Day Forecast
TOday
OrlandO
High: 81° F/27° C low: 67° F/19° C
Tampa
Tuesday
Wednesday
THursday
FrIday
Clouds and sun, a shower; breezy
Mostly cloudy with a shower
Partly sunny, a shower; breezy
Some sun with a shower in the area
Clouds and sun with a stray shower
Partly sunny, a t‑storm in spots
High: 87°
Low: 74°
High: 88° Low: 74°
High: 88° Low: 75°
High: 87° Low: 75°
High: 87° Low: 75°
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
90° F
75° F
93°-78° F
96°-80° F
100°-82° F
98°-81° F
High: 84° F/29° C low: 67° F/19° C
The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.
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almanac
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High: 83° F/28° C low: 79° F/26° C
10‑20 knots
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High: 84° F/29° C low: 75° F/24° C
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FT. lauderdale
FreepOrT
High: 83° F/28° C low: 76° F/24° C
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High: 83° F/28° C low: 72° F/22° C
mIamI
High: 85° F/29° C low: 74° F/23° C
10‑20 knots
Key WesT
High: 86° F/30° C low: 75° F/24° C
High: 87° F/31° C low: 74° F/23° C
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2016
High: 85° F/29° C low: 80° F/27° C
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The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.
tiDes For nassau High
Ht.(ft.)
Low
Ht.(ft.)
Today
2:57 a.m. 3:27 p.m.
2.5 3.0
9:05 a.m. 9:57 p.m.
Tuesday
3:57 a.m. 4:24 p.m.
2.7 3.1
10:07 a.m. 1.0 10:51 p.m. 0.8
Wednesday 4:54 a.m. 5:19 p.m.
2.9 3.2
11:07 a.m. 0.7 11:41 p.m. 0.5
Thursday
5:48 a.m. 6:11 p.m.
3.2 3.3
12:03 p.m. 0.4 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑
Friday
6:39 a.m. 7:01 p.m.
3.5 3.4
12:30 a.m. 0.2 12:57 p.m. 0.1
Saturday
7:29 a.m. 7:50 p.m.
3.7 3.5
1:17 a.m. ‑0.1 1:49 p.m. ‑0.1
Sunday
8:19 a.m. 8:40 p.m.
3.9 3.5
2:05 a.m. ‑0.3 2:41 p.m. ‑0.3
1.1 1.0
sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset
7:06 a.m. 6:47 p.m.
Moonrise Moonset
2:53 p.m. 1:22 a.m.
Full
last
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Oct. 16
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Oct. 30
nov. 7
CaT Island
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High: 85° F/29° C low: 80° F/27° C
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W S
10‑20 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 90° F/32° C Low .................................................... 81° F/27° C Normal high ....................................... 86° F/30° C Normal low ........................................ 73° F/23° C Last year’s high ................................. 91° F/33° C Last year’s low ................................... 73° F/23° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 45.95” Normal year to date ................................... 30.77”
eleuTHera
nassau
10‑20 knots
andrOs
san salVadOr
GreaT eXuma
High: 85° F/29° C low: 80° F/27° C
High: 85° F/29° C low: 80° F/27° C
N
High: 86° F/30° C low: 80° F/27° C
E
W S
lOnG Island
insurance management tracking map H
uV inDex toDay
TOnIGHT
High: 85° F/29° C low: 78° F/26° C
10‑20 knots
mayaGuana High: 85° F/29° C low: 79° F/26° C
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and
CrOOKed Island / aCKlIns
tonight’s lows.
raGGed Island High: 84° F/29° C low: 80° F/27° C
High: 85° F/29° C low: 79° F/26° C
GreaT InaGua High: 87° F/31° C low: 79° F/26° C
N
E
W
E
W
N
S
S
7‑14 knots
6‑12 knots
marine Forecast aBaCO andrOs CaT Island CrOOKed Island eleuTHera FreepOrT GreaT eXuma GreaT InaGua lOnG Island mayaGuana nassau raGGed Island san salVadOr
Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday:
WINDS NE at 10‑20 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots N at 10‑20 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots NNW at 6‑12 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots NNE at 10‑20 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots NNE at 10‑20 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots NW at 6‑12 Knots NE at 4‑8 Knots N at 7‑14 Knots NE at 4‑8 Knots NW at 6‑12 Knots WSW at 3‑6 Knots NNE at 8‑16 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots N at 7‑14 Knots ENE at 6‑12 Knots N at 10‑20 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots
WAVES 8‑12 Feet 8‑12 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 5‑9 Feet 5‑9 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 5‑9 Feet 5‑9 Feet 6‑10 Feet 6‑10 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 5‑9 Feet 5‑9 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑6 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 4‑7 Feet 5‑9 Feet
VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles
WATER TEMPS. 83° F 84° F 86° F 85° F 82° F 80° F 82° F 82° F 83° F 81° F 82° F 81° F 84° F 83° F 88° F 87° F 85° F 83° F 84° F 84° F 82° F 80° F 83° F 79° F 85° F 83° F
PAGE 16 , Monday, October 10, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
THE AFTERMATH: North Andros bore the brunt of Hurricane Matthew’s wrath. Homes in Lowe Sound were completely destroyed.
Battered North Andros in need of ‘everything’ By CARA HUNT cbrennen@tribunemedia.net RESIDENTS in North Andros will need “everything” in terms of relief supplies after that part of the island bore the brunt of hurricane Matthew’s wrath. While the area remains completely without communication, residents in Nassau with ties to the island have already launched a massive donation drive to help those impacted survive the storm’s aftermath. The effort has been spearheaded by the Facebook group Chickcharney Children in conjunction with the HeadKnowles group. “We have arranged a hangar at Sky Bahamas where persons in Nassau can drop off donations or they can contact the following group members who can arrange to collect the items - Cara Rolle (3767208) Janein White (425561), Nikoya Lightbourne (429-6217), Vanessa Jones (426-5733) and Paige Evans (426-4501) - Cara Rolle told The Tribune yesterday. “We have not been able to get in contact with anyone in North Andros as yet, but we anticipate that they will need everything. A boat is not expected to get to Andros until Wednesday so for now we are looking to send as many planes in
LOCAL FACEBOOK GROUPS LAUNCH MASSIVE HURRICANE RELIEF DRIVE as we can with the most essential emergency items,” she said. Persons are asked to donate anything they can including the following items: water, canned goods with pop tops, liquid baby formula and diapers, baby food, toothpaste and toothbrushes, wet wipes, feminine sanitary products, bleach and disinfections, plastic utensils, disposable plates and cups, tarpaulin canned gas and stoves, clean dry clothes and generators. Cleola Cooper Pinder, the Deputy Administrator of Fresh Creek, told The Tribune that she had just returned from North Andros where residents are dealing with massive damage. “We (Fresh Creek) are still without water and power, but everyone is doing what they can to clean up and get back to normal,” she said. The Prime Minister accompanied a National Emergency Management Association delegation to Lowe Sound on Saturday to assess the damage to infrastructure, see how many people are displaced and inspect critical facilities with a view to how quickly life can be restored to some sense of normalcy.
NORTH ANDROS is completely without communication and Nassau residents with ties to the island have launched a massive donation drive to help those impacted by the hurricane.