The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday that the total cost to repair government buildings and infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Joaquin has been pegged at $56 million, although this could drop to $34 million depending on which option is chosen to repair Acklins’s roads.

Addressing Parliament on the recovery efforts following the passage of the Category Four storm, Mr Christie said one option being presented for the Acklins roads was to repair them at existing elevations, with an estimated cost of $22.085 million.

The second involves the repairing and rebuilding of the road at a five-feet elevation, with an estimated cost of $43.937 million. Mr Christie said the estimate covers Lovely Bay (temporary road); Queens Highway from Spring Point north to Lovely Bay; Camel Point Road; Spring Point Clinic Road; Salina Point secondary road; Chesters Road; airport access road and the airport parking lot.

“The dock at Salina Point has been severely damaged, and it is estimated that it will cost $1.388 million to replace,” Mr Christie added.

“The total Government buildings and infrastructure comes in at $56.483 million. If we subtract the Acklins roadworks at the five foot elevation and go with the roadways at existing elevation, then the total revised costs come in at $34.398 million. Clearly, our work is cut out for us.”

Mr Christie added that Civil Aviation repairs in the affected islands have been estimated at $1.697 million, with repairs to the Crooked Island terminal estimated at $119,247; the Acklins Island airport terminal building at $180,375; the Acklins airport and taxiway at $427,819; Deadmans Cay’s Long Island terminal building at $162,280; and the San Salvador Island terminal building at $807,219.

“Repairs to to Government buildings such as the Clarence Town administrative complex, the packing house and various clinics are estimated at $682,581,” said Mr Christie, adding: “Repairs to the dock at Clarence Town, Salt Pond and Simms Sand. other infrastructure including seawalls and roads, are estimated to cost $2.941 million.”

Mr Christie said the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) had been making steady progress in its restoration efforts on Long Island, the most populated impacted by Hurricane Joaquin, with 84 per cent of customers on having had their supplies restored.

“The southern end of Long Island has proven a challenge for BEC crews. Not only is it more populated, but there was also extensive damage to BEC’s distribution network on this part of the island” said Mr Christie.

“As of today, BEC has restored supply as far south as Clarence Town and pole and line repairs continue in Dunmore’s. In addition to the overhead line work, some 120 household meters which were damaged by the hurricane have been replaced thus far.”