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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
USNORTHCOM General & Bahamas Prime Minister participate in Formal Handover of Disaster Relief Warehouse on Grand Bahama
By US Embassy Bahamas
Feb 14, 2014 - 1:01:09 PM
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General Charles Jacoby Jr., and Prime Minister of the Bahamas the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie flanked by senior U.S. and Bahamian government officials participate in the official ribbon-cutting to mark the handover of the disaster relief warehouse.
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On Thursday, February 13, General Charles H. Jacoby, Jr., Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command (NORAD and USNORTHCOM) made his first official visit to Grand Bahama to take part in the official donation ceremony of the new Disaster Relief Warehouse in Freeport, Grand Bahama. U.S. Charge d’Affaires John Dinkelman and other senior U.S. officials were also on hand for the event. Prime Minister of The Bahamas The Rt. Hon. Perry Christie led a Bahamian delegation attending the handover ceremony that included the Minister for Grand Bahama Michael Darville, Minister of Social Services Melanie Griffin, Commodore of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force Roderic Bowe and Captain Stephen Russell, Director of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
This latest donation, valued at approximately $895,500 USD is a significant part of the continuing humanitarian assistance cooperation between the Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, NEMA and USNORTHCOM. The donation included the warehouse, disaster relief supplies, equipment and training to facilitate the National Emergency Management Agency’s response to future disasters.
In his remarks, General Jacoby highlighted that it is a privilege for the United States to have such a proven and reliable partnership with a country that prioritizes the safety and security of its citizens and visitors.
General Charles Jacoby Jr., and Prime Minister of the Bahamas the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie flanked by senior U.S. and Bahamian government officials participate in the official ribbon-cutting to mark the handover of the disaster relief warehouse.
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“This warehouse is a tangible testament to that partnership. It is an example of our shared safety and security concerns and illustrates how fundamentally important citizen safety is to our two nations.” General Jacoby added, “You are USNORTHCOM’s most relied-upon partner in the Caribbean for many defense and security related issues, but it is a true honor for us to play a part in supporting you in a most sacred endeavor – to never be late in helping your citizens when disaster strikes.”
Prime Minister Perry Christie thanked General Jacoby and USNORTHCOM for the state-of the art facility, one of two warehouses donated by USNORTHCOM to the people of The Bahamas. The other facility is located in Coral Harbour on New Providence. The Prime Minister noted that the donation goes along in helping The Bahamas’ emergency relief efforts and ensures that The Bahamas is better equipped to proactively address preventative measures for disaster mitigation.
The official handover included the melodious sounds of the Royal Bahamas Police Force Pop Band, the ceremonial ribbon-cutting followed by a tour of the new facility.
The National Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Warehouse on Grand Bahama. General Charles Jacoby Jr., USNORTHCOM, gives remarks during the official handover of the disaster relief warehouse on Grand Bahama.
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REMARKS BY
RT. HON. PERRY CHRISTIE
PRIME MINISTER, THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS
OFFICIAL HANDOVER OF
GRAND BAHAMA DISASTER WAREHOUSE
THURSDAY, 13TH FEBRUARY, 2014
FREEPORT GRAND BAHAMA
Minister for Grand Bahama, Hon. Dr. Michael Darville
U. S. Charge d’Affaires, Mr. John Dinkelman
General Charles H. Jacoby Jr., Aerospace Defense Command & United States Northern Command
Mr. Randal Zellar, Humanitarian Assistance Director at NORAD United States Northern Command
(Retired) Ambassador Stuart Symington, US Political Advisor, NORAD United States Northern Command
Mr. Melvin Seymour, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Grand Bahama
Captain Stephen Russell, Director of NEMA
Administrator Alexander Williams
Senior Government Officials
Representatives from the US Embassy and US Northcom
Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Afternoon,
The Government of The Bahamas is pleased to officially accept the new Grand Bahama Disaster Warehouse and the emergency supplies and equipment that were donated to the people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas by the United States Northern Command through the Office of Defence Cooperation, here in New Providence, under the United States of America’s Humanitarian Assistance Programme.
I am delighted to extend on behalf of the Government and the citizens of The Bahamas our sincere thanks and gratitude to the United States Government. I wish also to extend thanks to General Charles Jacoby Jr., Mr. John Dinkelman, and staff of US Embassy, US Public Health Services and the training instructors who provided the individuals responsible for the management and upkeep of this very valuable facility, with the training that will ensure that this warehouse is properly maintained, equipped and organized. I also wish to thank Hulke Construction Company for the construction of this facility.
The United States and The Bahamas have a long history of friendship with each other. Throughout that history, our Governments have partnered on many efforts together and the US has always been kind to us. Many US citizens have second homes in The Bahamas, further helping to develop the bond that we share. And Bimini has carved a spot for itself in American history as the place where Ernest Hemingway, Adam Clayton Powell and Dr. Martin Luther King each made their mark.
This Disaster Warehouse Project, which cost just under nine hundred thousand dollars, has a square footage of 4,800. It is equipped with an office/meeting space, a secure storage space of 180 square feet, restrooms, warehouse pilot storage, 40 pallet racks, 20 kilowatt gas generator and auto transfer switch and a 1,000 gallon rainwater 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. This project has been in the making for quite some time and is long overdue. However, today we are happy that the warehouse project has been successfully completed. I sincerely promise that my government will do its best to use it to its fullest utilisation.
One of our challenges in this archipelago that stretches over 100,00 square miles of water within the hurricane zone, is to be cognizant that there is hardly ever enough time to warn against an impending disaster. Often we do not know how severe an impact our islands will have to withstand. We must continue our efforts to ensure that we do all that is possible to better prepare for any disaster and better our response capabilities.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) offices in Grand Bahama and New Providence along with the Ministry for Grand Bahama did a commendable job in ensuring that the Bahamas’ involvement and contributions to this project were met.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) offices in Grand Bahama and New Providence along with the Ministry for Grand Bahama did a commendable job in ensuring that The Bahamas’ involvement and contributions to this project were met.
On a larger scale NEMA, the office that I have responsibility of on daily basis, ensures that disaster mitigation and preparedness efforts are ongoing yearly throughout the archipelago. As a 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 US Government and a proposed warehouse, which is a part of the Agency’s long term strategic plan to be constructed in the Southern Bahamas.
Many may not understand the importance of having these warehouses placed in strategic locations in our country, and the role they play in the 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.
Once again the Government of The Bahamas is grateful for this act of generosity on the part of the United States Government in the donation of this new state of the art Disaster Warehouse, the necessary Warehouse Management Training and the Emergency Supplies and Equipment. Undoubtedly, this Warehouse Project will go a long way in helping to enhance our emergency response efforts and by extension help provide relief to Bahamians, as well as visitors, most of whom are US citizens, affected by disaster.
Thank you.
© Copyright 2014 by thebahamasweekly.com
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