Scenes from Long Island yesterday as the rebuilding effort begins.
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
WHILE officials continue to visit the Family Islands hardest hit by Hurricane Joaquin to glean an accurate picture of the devastation, Prime Minister Perry Christie said the initial assessment has pegged the price tag of damage at well over $60m.
This figure, he said, is expected to increase as the Ministry of Finance continues to receive additional assessments.
Mr Christie said the amount needed to cover the cost of this recovery and repair phase is likely to be funded through borrowing from either the Caribbean Development Bank, financing from the People’s Republic of China or by other traditional sourcing.
Mr Christie had initially said the damage resulting from the category four storm would amount to tens of millions of dollars.
“When I looked at some of the figures, we were over $60m and we were still having assessments come in,” Mr Christie said during a more than two hour-long press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday.
“So clearly when I indicated tens of millions (of dollars) without having any idea of the cost of the infrastructure replacements necessary I knew that we were in that ball park. It is important for me to indicate that the Ministry of Works had officials go from house to house. They are submitting reports and making assessments to the necessary infrastructure.”
He continued: “I have already asked the Ministry of Finance to review opportunities for borrowing money from the Caribbean Development Bank and there are monies available through financing from the Chinese to the region and other traditional sources because the country cannot wait.
“Even if we were to have the most successful fundraising campaign these initial attempts must be made by the government. Therefore we are proposing to continue to have our teams go into these affected areas and continue to leverage the goods that are necessary for the survival of the residents. We are now accelerating the assessments to determine the repairs to infrastructure, the repairs to schools (and) the repairs to people’s homes.”
Mr Christie said while the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has the capability to receive donations for relief efforts, he told reporters that at this critical time, the country needed a more organised approach to fundraising.
“The government recognises that NEMA has a number of accounts, two in particular that Captain (Stephen) Russell is able to receive donations and he has been receiving donations. The external auditors of NEMA are Deloitte and Touche.”
He said the government has set up a special team to oversee a fundraising team for storm relief efforts.
“So the government is proposing and has procured the consent of Nathaniel Beneby, (managing director) of the Royal Bank of Canada to be chair and an executive from Deltec bank to be a chairperson (in charge of) raising funds for the way ahead. We are going to add to that a number of persons with accounting backgrounds and backgrounds at accounting firms will come in as support because it would be necessary to have an organised approach to fund raising,” Mr Christie said.
Hurricane Joaquin battered the central and southern Bahamas on October 1 and 2, destroying homes and buildings and leaving severe flooding in its wake.
Comments
observer2 8 years, 6 months ago
He mussy left one zero of dat number - I tink he meaning $600 million. But I'ain give up hope cause we had some "teachable moments" wit Bamsi, COB, BEC bribe, Hospital and Urban Renew. But ain nuttin change my bro cause da same peoples dem go be in charge.
But i'ain sure. Cause once da boys dem get dey contract, da workers dem ga get real mad as dey ain ga paid dem. Den in 2017 da government dem ga change den da next set a boys ga cancel all da contract and get dey boys - dem red set worser dan des yellow set. But errybody mad wit do yellow set. By 2025 da islands dem will be back ta normal.
All dat VAT monies gone. Foreigners dem ga downgrade us fa sure.
I tink dey should ge da contract to HeadKnowles dem. Dey look like dey knows what de doin. An da ain ask fa no contract yet. Well muddos.
lazybor 8 years, 6 months ago
that "+" looks suspicious
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lookingon 8 years, 6 months ago
Unless there is complete accountability and transparency, I would advise that no further funds be borrowed.
Having all these persons living in far flung islands is beyond the capacity of any of our governments to service. This is an ideal time to build a brand new island city on Andros....Let's consolidate all of our family islanders in one place; let's give the young people an opportunity buy affordable land on which to build their family homes. Going to Ragged Island, Crooked Island, San Salvador is a stretch and when we are finished half way helping those islanders, they still won't be pleased because we just don't have the capacity to get the job done properly. Dear Lord this country is stuck in a failing model....do Lord open the eyes of the people and give them a new vision of what can be.
Publius 8 years, 6 months ago
$60 million? Is this guy for real? And if it is only $60 million as he says, what do we need to borrow monies for given all the VAT money being collected?
EnoughIsEnough 8 years, 6 months ago
Firstly, is this number including the cost to rebuild homes and businesses of private citizens or the cost to rebuild public infrastructure such as BEC, Water & Sewerage, etc? Govt should not be borrowing on behalf of the nation to rebuild private homes. We are not a socialist country and we cannot afford that. People should have insurance to cover their properties. And I agree with lookingon - we cannot be rebuilding infrastructure in these remote islands. it makes no fiscal sense. If you want to have one main settlement on an island such as Acklins or crooked island where all infrastructure (water/BEC) is in place then that's one thing. But to start paving roads, running lines for miles and miles to provide utilities for a settlement of a handful of people - well, we just can't afford it. We need to invest the money into other established communities and develop islands that make fiscal sense. If you return to crooked island and don't want to live in the main (newly rebuilt) settlement (located where there is boat and plane access) and instead choose to live 15 miles away remotely, then that is on you. The country should not bear the burden. I understand there is history and emotion and people's roots involved but come on now - emotion doesn't put money in the back. WE must be realistic in a failing, poor country. And the settlements that are rebuilt should have more focus on solar power. but ultimately, the taxpayers money should NOT go to rebuild private homes. ludicrous. it sets a bad precedent and we can't afford it. And people can barely make a living on those islands - it makes no sense. But don't bring them to nassau. work on developing other communities - like lookingon said - in Andros, etc..
Sickened 8 years, 6 months ago
I agree. If Gov't spends say $1million to run electricity to some remote settlement which has only 10 houses then that is ridiculous! It just doesn't make economic sense. What if there is only 5 houses or 2 houses. At some point we have to figure out how much we are willing to spend in infrastructure. The people in these remote small settlements should be given the opportunity to either buy crown land in an established settlement at a fair price or exchange their current land for crown land. If they want to live in the boonies then they need to buy and maintain a generator.
Baha10 8 years, 6 months ago
Very well put, only problem, there appear to be few, if any, "right" thinking Bahamians in Government, irrespective of Party.
MonkeeDoo 8 years, 6 months ago
If you all think Andros is a good option you should go there. It is as flat as a pancake and waterways by the hundreds. And the tongue of the ocean all along the east coast ready to be Tsunamied onshore. Maybe try Eleuthera. It got a couple of hills and very arable. Put the new prisons on Andros and hope for the worst.
lookingon 8 years, 6 months ago
It does not necessarily have to be Andros...It could be Eleuthera or Grand Bahama but the point that I am making is that the government does not have the capacity to service every little rock and bush containing ten persons.
John 8 years, 6 months ago
Government must take advantage of the fact that it has to rebuild most of the infrastructure in the Southern Bahamas. This time around it should spend wisely and construct proper facilities that can withstand, if not a strong and devastating hurricane as Joaquin, the lesser ones that frequent these islands. At least one building, school or other building, should be strong enough and flood proof enough to be a designated shelter. Start with most essential buildings and infrastructure first and spread the reconstruction over a period of two-three years. Of course the lesson from Freeport and Abaco was that a number buildings, airport included, that were rebuilt after the hurricane were damaged or destroyed by subsequent hurricanes.
kg242 8 years, 6 months ago
I think that Exuma should be made into the city(or Hub) of the Central & Southeast Bahamas..We have a Mini-Hospital, International Airport(night flights are possible) with Multiple International Flights, we have a thriving tourist economy and we alot of available land for development and or farming.
JohnBrown 8 years, 6 months ago
Yes that's right! A $60 million loan for the people to have knowledge of and fight over like black crabs in a tub, $540 million for those worthless ministers to share, and if you look on the last page of the loan agreement the total amount of the loan is $600 million. So everybody happy! We call them disaster capitalist. One big, big shame, a big disgrace.
TalRussell 8 years, 6 months ago
Comrades it was back at end of September of 2004 when this exact Rt. Honourable PM Christie made a declaration, that Abaco and Grand Bahama were disaster areas. That both of the Northern Islands had sustained severe damages from Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. That it would cost in the many millions of dollars to set straight. He declared that his government had appealed for both regional and international assistance to provide immediate emergency relief to islanders and residents of both effected islands - and also funds for the reconstruction that would be required.
Comrades, I ask you to go ask the islanders and residents, if the this "straight talking" PM, delivered on his promises back then?
Unfortunately, former PM Hubert's track record of providing sustainable hurricane relief ain't no better.
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