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The Tribune L ATEST NE WS ON TRIBUNE242.COM
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
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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
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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