WEST END, Grand Bahama – The full extent of the American assistance in the area of housing in the hurricane relief efforts in West End following the devastation wreaked by Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004, were outlined last week as the keys to nine new homes were presented by Ambassador Rood, Minister of Housing and National Insurance Hon. Shane Gibson, and the Member of Parliament for West End and Bimini, Minister Obie Wilchcombe.
United States Ambassador to The Bahamas John Rood said that the U.S. initially responded to the disaster with temporary shelters, water purification systems, disaster relief supplies shipped from Florida, and $150,000 to pay for immediate disaster assistance.
The Ambassador said that on September 2, 2004, Hurricane Frances struck The Bahamas and passed directly over Grand Bahama causing two deaths and affected well over 8,000 people. And three weeks after Frances, Hurricane Jeanne made landfall in The Bahamas causing even greater damage than Frances. It severely impacted West End where roofs were lost, structures collapsed and the accompanying storm surge caused extensive flooding and a scene of utter destruction.
In July, 2005, the United States Government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of The Bahamas to provide $500,000 in support of hurricane recovery efforts, the Ambassador said.
He added that USAID has been working closely with the Bahamas Ministry of Housing and NEMA to construct 19 houses in a co-operative effort where the Government of The Bahamas provides materials while USAID funds and manages the labor and construction.
The partnership between the Government agencies of the United States and The Bahamas is providing 19 homes for the most vulnerable and needy people in the community of West End, with “vulnerability” being based on the following criteria:
– that the property was occupied by the owner at the time of the hurricane;
– the owner did not have hurricane insurance coverage;
– the household has a weekly income of $250 or less;
– the owner has secure tenure
To implement the scheme, USAID’S active partner, PADCO, has engaged four local contractors to rebuild the 19 homes, eight of which have been completed. All of the homes have been constructed to meet hurricane resistant standards and are built on concrete “piers” to protect against storm surge and flooding.
“These 19 new homes will benefit as many as 80 people, many of whom have been staying in temporary housing or with friends and family”, the Ambassador explained., adding that “the reconstruction effort is just one example of the types of partnerships that are important to the ongoing relationship between the United States of America and The Commonwealth of The Bahamas”.
He declared that the United States and The Bahamas are more than geographical neighbors, being economic partners, friends and family; or as Prime Minister Christie often said, ‘kin’.
“Therefore,” he continued, “we must continue to work together for the betterment of our lives, our economies and our security.”
He saw the present partnership and the construction of the 19 homes in West End as a demonstration of the theme of USAID’s Hurricane Recovery Programs: ‘Build Back Better’.
Ambassador Rood, as he expressed the wish for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, said, “We can all work at building better, not only in the construction of hurricane resistant homes and other structures, but also in the continual building of close partnerships between the United States and The Bahamas.”
