From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
Prime Minister Minnis Remarks Hurricane Maria
Sep 20, 2017 - 1:52:18 PM
Nassau, The Bahamas - Statement on Hurricane Maria by Dr. the Hon. Hubert A. Minni,s Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Tuesday, 19 September, 2017 at Office of the Prime Minister Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre 8:00 P.M.:
Fellow Citizens and Residents:
I thought it necessary to speak to the country once again, to remind Bahamians and residents that we are still in a very active hurricane season, with especially strong storms.
These major storms carry the potential for the loss of life and catastrophic damage, as we have seen with Hurricane Irma, which ravaged some of our Southern Caribbean neighbours, parts of Florida, Ragged Island, Acklins, and caused extensive damage to Bimini and parts of Grand Bahama.
The hurricane season ends on November 30th. The current threat is Hurricane Maria, now a Category Five hurricane, which rapidly developed into a powerful storm before making landfall at Dominica.
We are still awaiting confirmed reports of the effect of Hurricane Maria on Dominica and Martinique but preliminary reports indicate that extensive damage was done in Dominica.
The latest report from the Met Office notes:
The latest forecast track for Maria has it passing just to the east of the Southeast Bahamas on Friday morning as a major category three or four hurricane.
As forecast tracks for Hurricane Maria are issued, each new track pushed the hurricane further east of the Islands of The Bahamas.
The latest position on Hurricane Maria at 5pm on Tuesday puts it at … 685 miles southeast of Matthew Town Inagua, and 1090 miles southeast of New Providence.
Hurricane Maria is [currently] a dangerous Category Five hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 165 miles per hour.
At noon on Tuesday, [the Met Department] issued a Hurricane Alert for the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeast Bahamas. This includes the islands of Inagua, Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, Samana Cay and Mayaguana.
Residents in these Islands are asked to ensure that all hurricane preparations are put in place as there is a chance that they could experience some effects of Hurricane Maria within the next 60 hours.
The current track of the hurricane shows that the Southern Bahamas remains in the hurricane cone. Hurricane Maria is another potentially devastating hurricane that we must carefully monitor.
Though most of The Bahamas was spared the devastation of Hurricane Irma, it is essential that the country remains vigilant and prepared. We cannot let our guard down.
There are some who complained about the level of preparation they had to do prior to Hurricane Irma.
Let me remind these individuals of the devastation caused by Irma. Those who are inclined to complain should visit Ragged Island and other areas destroyed by Hurricane Irma.
I believe they will come away with a sense of gratitude and a better understanding of the need for precaution and to be prepared.
A heart filled with gratitude has no place for complaining.
The Government of The Bahamas would be negligent if it did not warn in advance and in a timely manner of the threat of hurricanes to our archipelago, including potentially catastrophic superstorms.
One of the primary responsibilities of a government is the safety and security of citizens and residents.
Fellow Citizens and Residents:
Being vigilant includes monitoring the location of Hurricane Maria by listening to updates through radio, television and/or through reliable social media.
Bahamians and residents throughout the country need to monitor the location and proximity of Maria to the island or cay on which they live.
Maritime traffic, fishermen and boaters should also carefully monitor the track of Hurricane Maria.
Being prepared includes maintaining necessary supplies in the event of a hurricane, including food, water, medicine, gasoline, flashlights, radios, batteries and any other necessary supplies.
We should all be prepared to secure our homes and businesses if necessary.
As the hurricane season continues I advise Bahamians and residents to: keep shutters in a convenient place; ensure that important documents are in a secure place, and properly packaged, in the event you are required to move quickly; and to keep an overnight bag with clothing and toiletries in the event an evacuation order is issued.
I also advise that you continue to trim trees and remove all debris which may become a hazard due to heavy winds. Those living in coastal areas should be prepared to relocate and take extra pre-cautionary measures.
The Government remains vigilant of potential price gouging. The Prices Commission continues a programme of strict supervision, review and monitoring of the prices being charged for certain essential items needed in preparation for a hurricane.
The Commission will “report any suspected violations to the Office of the Attorney General which has, in consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Royal Bahamas Police Force, committed to aggressively investigate any information which might indicate any of the elements of what is termed ‘price gouging’, and to act accordingly, should such evidence be found.”
Those who take advantage of consumers, especially when people are most vulnerable, will feel the just weight of the law.
All agencies of The Bahamas Government remain on alert, including the Met Office, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), other government departments, and public and private utility providers.
I have instructed the Ministry of Works to ensure that as many drains as possible are cleared in New Providence.
The Government is prepared to activate other emergency protocols depending on the track of Hurricane Maria. It is best to proceed with an abundance of caution and due diligence.
Preparations include ensuring that emergency communication networks, including with all Family Islands, are tested and ready for use.
I again thank all government ministries, agencies, departments and officials involved in hurricane preparedness.
We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the many public officers and officials at non-profit institutions, who have been on alert during this especially ferocious hurricane season.
Fellow Citizens and Residents:
I fully appreciate that hurricane season can be a time of anxiety and stress, including for those with financial constraints, and those with young children and elderly parents and relatives.
There is a natural and understandable weariness as we all monitor the track of various storms, which seem to just keep coming one after the next.
But amidst the anxiety and weariness, let us continue to pray for patience and to be people of goodwill. Continue to go about your daily routines and try to find healthy ways of relieving stress.
Let us try to be patient with each other in the spirit of understanding, generosity and community.
When we consider our neighbours in the Caribbean and Florida, who have lost loved ones, their neighbours, their homes, businesses, and livelihoods, we should banish complaining and ingratitude from our hearts and minds.
Let us summon the best of the Bahamian Spirit as we move forward through the rest of this hurricane season. I have confidence in the people of The Bahamas.
If you are able, please donate to hurricane relief efforts for our neighbours.
The Government will continue to provide updates on Hurricane Maria.
Proverbs 13:40 reminds us: “A heart of peace gives life to the body.” Let us continue to pray for peace of heart and mind and to ask the Lord of Life to continue to strengthen us with the spirit of resolve and gratitude.
May God continue to guide our Commonwealth.
Thank you and good afternoon.
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