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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Bahamas Information Services Updates
Freeport, Bahamas – Prime Minister the Right Honourable Perry Gladstone Christie on Thursday evening accepted a generous donation from the United States which now finds residents in the northern Bahamas better equipped with relief supplies in the event of a disaster. The Prime Minister was in Grand Bahama for the official handover of the Grand Bahama Disaster Warehouse, situated at Grand Bahama Way, Hawksbill. The warehouse with emergency supplies and equipment were donated to the people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas by the United States Northern Command through the Office of Defence Cooperation under the United States of America’s Humanitarian Assistance Programme. Also in Grand Bahama for the handover was General Charles H. Jacoby of the United States Army and Commander of the North American Aerospace Defence and United States Northern Command. Also representing the U.S. Government was Mr. John Dinkelman, Charge d’Affaires to The Bahamas and other senior military personnel. Prime Minister Christie held discussions with senior U.S. officials prior to the opening. Addressing a large audience Prime Minister Christie stressed that The Bahamas and the United States have had a long history of friendship, and that the two governments have partnered on many efforts. He said the new warehouse is a valuable facility and expressed further gratitude for the training carried out by U.S. personnel to ensure that the warehouse is properly maintained, equipped and organised. The facility, according to Prime Minister Christie, cost just under $900,000 and has a square footage of 4,800. It is also equipped with an office/meeting room, a secure storage space, restroom, warehouse pilot storage, 40 pallet racks, 20 kilowatt gas generator and auto transfer switch and a 1,000 gallon water storage tank. “I firmly believe that this warehouse will be most beneficial to the people of Grand Bahama and the islands that are situated in the Northern Bahamas,” the Prime Minister said. He pointed out that one of the challenges of the archipelago, which covers over 100,000 square miles of water within the hurricane zone is, to be cognisant that there is hardly ever enough time to warn against an impending disaster. Further, he advised that often there is no knowledge of how severe an impact the islands will have to withstand. According to Mr. Christie, all efforts must be continued to ensure that all that is possible is done to better prepare for any disaster and better the response capabilities. “On a larger scale NEMA, the office that I have responsibility for on a daily basis ensures that disaster mitigation and preparedness efforts are ongoing yearly throughout the archipelago. “As part of its long term strategic plan, the Agency will soon have a total of three National Disaster Warehouses in The Bahamas. “One in the Northern Bahamas, which we are currently accepting, the Disaster Warehouse in Coral Harbour, New Providence which was also donated by the U.S. Government and a proposed warehouse, which is a part of the Agency’s long term strategic plan to be constructed in the Southern Bahamas,” he said, while encouraging U.S. officials to assist with that goal as well. Mr. Christie noted that many may not understand the importance of having these warehouses placed in strategic locations in the country and the role they play in wake of a disaster. “They allow for emergency supplies to be placed in strategic locations reducing the time spent on transporting goods from New Providence to the Southern Bahamas, which can take almost two days to islands as far south as Inagua,” he said. Again thanking the United States for their generosity, the training of personnel and the donation of emergency supplies and equipment, Mr. Christie said the warehouse project will go a long way in helping to enhance emergency response efforts. Also thanking the United States Government for the donation was the Minister for Grand Bahama, the Honourable Dr. Michael Darville. He pointed out that the residents of Grand Bahama are no strangers to the adverse effects of natural disasters and drew attention to three hurricanes a few years back which ravaged the island, causing extensive damages and forcing residents to live without utilities and other basic necessities for weeks. “The construction, furnishing and handover of this state of the art warehouse facility to the Bahamian Government is certainly a testament that our neighbours to the north, recognised and responded positively to the needs of the people of Grand Bahama. “As Minister for Grand Bahama, I wish to express personal gratitude to the United States Government for erecting this much needed disaster preparedness warehouse and office facility, furnishing it and providing training for members of the Grand Bahama Disaster Committee in the proper management of this facility and suitable methods for receiving and distributing supplies during any type of emergency,” he said. Dr. Darville was also pleased to inform that his Ministry, in collaboration with other public and private sector partners, has taken steps to ensure that Grand Bahamians are more prepared and safe in the event of natural disasters.
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