Amid criticism of the National Emergency Management Agency's (NEMA) handling of Hurricane Joaquin relief efforts, Prime Minister Perry Christie came to the agency's defense yesterday and charged that NEMA has been mischaracterized".

During a special communication in the House of Assembly, Christie said NEMA and the Department of Meteorology worked steadfastly ahead of the powerful storm, which not only rapidly progressed but also veered off its projected track.

"And, Mr. Speaker, because of the misinformation, mischaracterization of matters to do with the functioning of people working steadfastly for the government of The Bahamas at the Met Office, at NEMA, various agencies of the government where people have continued to mischaracterize, mis-describe and put erroneous information out to the public, inflammatory information out to the public, it is important that I take some effort in their defense and in their promotion of the work they do," Christie said.

Christie's comments came hours after MICAL MP V Alfred Gray suggested that "heads should roll" over some of the government's agencies' handling of Hurricane Joaquin. Gray did not specifically refer to NEMA.

NEMA came under fire following reports that many residents in the southern Bahamas were not warned about the category four hurricane until it was too late. The agency was also heavily criticized for failing to ensure that all shelters were open ahead of the storm.

As Christie laid out the development of the storm and its progression he also noted that The Bahamas wasn't initially projected to be in the storm's path. He said that it wasn't until the evening of September 29 that the storm changed its track.

"We should note that Hurricane Joaquin continued to wobble and drift toward The Bahamas, indicating that the computer models were not to be relied upon at the early onset of the storm. Let me just repeat that for those who want to talk," he said.

Christie said soon after the storm changed course, the Department of Meteorology began issuing warnings and continued to issue them in the ensuing hours and days. Turning to NEMA, Christie also provided a detailed account of the agency's response to the storm. Christie said NEMA partially activated on September 30 based on advice from the Bahamas Department of Meteorology.

"As a result of further announcements by the Department of Meteorology, NEMA, at 9 a.m. on Thursday, October 1st, fully activated its National Emergency Operations Center, on Gladstone Road.

"The agency began the monitoring process, as well as alerting citizens throughout The Bahamas about the approaching hurricane.

"The agency held a series of press briefings; one including myself and members of my Cabinet and the Disaster Advisory Council.

"... Mr. Speaker, Hurricane Joaquin, which went through a period of rapid intensification, went from a category one hurricane to a category four within a period of 24 to 36 hours. The slow speed, intensity and growth of the storm was a cause of concern.

"The director of NEMA, in anticipation of the outcome of a category four storm being stationary for such a long period, began to establish contact with a number of regional and international partners, so as to allow them to commence the activation of their response mechanism."

Christie added that NEMA also put in a request to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to provide relief assistance, which is currently assisting with the assessments.

The prime minister said following the all clear, NEMA began coordinating relief and restoration flights into the islands of Acklins, Crooked Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador, and Long Island. He said basic food supplies, water, and other items were flown into the area.

NEMA Director Stephen Russell has repeatedly asserted that NEMA handled its obligations appropriately.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian