Orlando House, an office close to the airport in Grand Bahama, after Hurricane Matthew.

ALTHOUGH the tourism industry on Grand Bahama has taken a hit after Hurricane Matthew, a prominent hotelier and businessman is optimistic about the great opportunity to rebuild, improve and enhance the tourist product.

With two of the island’s anchor hotel properties in Lucaya closed for repairs, Sunwing Airlines has suspended flights from its US and Canadian gateways, and Carnival Cruise Lines has cancelled sailings to Freeport.

Port Lucaya Marketplace, which also sustained damage, has cleaned up well, but there aren’t many visitors walking the bricked pathways and browsing the stores and shops there.

The smaller hotel properties, such as Pelican Bay Resort in Lucaya, and Castaways in Freeport, which also sustained damage, are open for business providing accommodation to the hundreds of people brought in to help with restoration efforts.

Russell Miller, chairman of the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, however, said tourism stakeholders have been busy meeting on Grand Bahama about plans to relaunch the island.

“We had some meetings… and I believe it is a great opportunity for us to rebuild, improve and enhance the product,” he said.

“We are in discussion with the Ministry of Tourism to have a relaunch of Grand Bahama early next year when all the products are back in place, and up and running so we can get the message out that Grand Bahama is open for business and we welcome visitors to come back to our shores.”

In Lucaya, the Grand Lucayan Resort, a 519-room property consisting of the Breaker’s Cay and Lighthouse Pointe, expects to open November 7. The 496-room Memories Resort, which employs a staff of 500, expects to reopen December 10.

The closed Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach Resort expects to open on November 14.

Sunwing expects to resume services on December 17 when the Memories Resort reopens. The airline, which started services to Freeport in 2003, brought thousands of visitors to the island every week. Its winter schedule includes flights from Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Edmonton to Freeport.

The hurricane has also taken a toll on the island’s tourist attractions. The operators of Port Lucaya Marketplace, the Garden of the Groves, and Pirate’s Cove water theme park at Taino Beach are in the process of restoring their facilities for when the hotels reopen.

By Denise Maycock, Tribune Freeport Reporter

FNM leader Dr. Hubert Minnis during his tour of Andros. Photo: Yontalay Bowe

FREE National Movement Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis yesterday accused the National Emergency Management Agency of giving “preferential treatment” to Progressive Liberal Party supporters and leaving everyone else “out in the cold” in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

Speaking with The Tribune after completing a walkabout in Lowe Sound, Andros, Dr. Minnis said residents claimed that NEMA is only buying food and supplies from stores where the owners support the government.

He also said that there are no construction supplies in Andros and residents are “anxious” to begin repairs on their homes.

North Andros was one of the islands hardest hit by Hurricane Matthew earlier this month. The island suffered severe flooding, damage to nearly 100 homes while 35 others were destroyed.

“My team and I came down to Andros to see the progress and to ensure that there is fairness in terms of distribution,” Dr. Minnis said. “You know we have a huge concern with transparency and honesty with this government.

“There are still no construction supplies and that is causing concern because the residents want to begin repair work but NEMA has not provided them with any supplies. Residents also complained that there is a food shortage on the island and NEMA has been purchasing food from local stores but only from PLPs. We will not tolerate this and we in the (Official) Opposition will push for fair play and accountability. I will be speaking with NEMA when I return.”

Dr. Minnis also said it is a shame that three weeks after the storm, Lowe Sound is still without power and the one Bahamas Power and Light bucket truck that is on the island, is leaving on Monday.

“In spite of what Bahamas Power and Light said there is no light here,” he added. “They are getting assistance from individuals from Dominica, but there is only one bucket truck. So there is work to do but only a little can be done with only one truck,” Dr. Minnis said.

“And I am being told that the truck is leaving today and being sent back to Eleuthera, but the work is not completed. They need two or three more days to complete the work and this needs to be done. I urge BPL if they are concerned with the quality of life, not only in New Providence, to provide the facilities necessary to get the work completed.”

Days after the storm, Dr. Minnis said the government’s Hurricane Matthew recovery and restoration efforts would involve cronyism and victimisation.

“We know the PLP has a history of cronyism, a history of dishonesty and a history of corruption and a history of victimisation,” he said at the time. “I am not really listening to what they say about transparency and how they are going to not look at the political landscape. An election is coming. If they have demonstrated overt victimisation and cronyism immediately after the last election, God help what they can do with the coming election just to ensure they have the advantage to win.”

Sancheska Dorsett, Tribune Staff Reporter

The unveiling yesterday of plans by the College of the Bahamas for a 1,000-bed residential hall facility.

COLLEGE of the Bahamas officials yesterday inked a contract with a local investment management firm for the construction of a near $100m, 1,000 bed on-campus residential hall, something officials said is a “major tool” in helping to further augment the college’s transition to university status.

At the Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre yesterday morning, COB President Dr. Rodney Smith said signing the contract with Providence Advisors Ltd. signifies a “tremendous change” and “transformation” for the college as it draws nearer to its November transition deadline.

According to officials, ground is expected to be broken for the construction of the residence hall by mid-summer 2017, with an aim to completing the residence hall by Fall 2019.

“We’re at a point now in our history when we’re about to jump to another level,” Dr. Smith said. “We’re about to make a significant change on this campus that’s going to help to change what is happening in the entire country.

“We are in a rebuilding mode in our country after a devastating hurricane. But simultaneously, we are building for the future of this country. And that’s what this residential hall means.”

According to officials, the residence hall will feature study rooms on each floor, a “food court” styled dining facility and a state-of-the-art fitness facility. Additionally, Dr. Smith said a parking deck will accompany the building, along with retail stores.

“It’s going to be a tremendous change, a transformation,” he added. “We’re talking about economic development as well, we’re talking about recruiting more international students to our campus, we’re talking about giving our Family Island students more of an opportunity for an education.”

Dr. Smith said, for years, COB has been able to house just 60 students, the majority of whom he said are usually Family Island students. However, he said, COB usually ends up with a waiting list of “well over 200 students”, something that should be alleviated with the construction of the new residence hall.

“This building is also going to allow us to begin recruiting international students,” he added. “Students have already told us from around the world that if we had a residential hall here in the Bahamas they would be here without question. Students who have visited this campus want to come back as students as well.

“So we are indeed exceptionally excited, not only for the fact that we’re making a transition that is changing this institution, but also the lives of many people, and it’s actually putting a feather in the cap of The Bahamas totally.”

Dr. Smith also announced that COB has amended its University of the Bahamas Charter event schedule so that those attending and other personnel can devote most of their time to assisting relief and recovery efforts for those most impacted by Hurricane Matthew.

According to Dr Smith, the list of scheduled events will now start on Sunday, November 6, with the Thanksgiving Service at the Christ Church Cathedral, and end on November 11 with the road renaming ceremony at the Oakes Field Campus.

“While the charter day of the University of the Bahamas is an historic milestone of national, regional and international significance, we are compelled to ensure that this transition is observed in a manner which reflects our restoration priority,” Dr. Smith said.

By Nico Scavella, Tribune Staff Reporter

In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, an estimated 7,000 homes were damaged in Grand Bahama, according to Deputy Director of Social Services Lillian Quant-Forbes.

Forbes told Guardian Business that extra staff was sent to Grand Bahama to help assess the damage that was caused by the Category 4 storm.

"We are sending a team of 10 persons to assist our staff in Grand Bahama. Some of them also experienced loss as a result of the hurricane. So, we are sending a team from New Providence, some staff from Abaco and from Bimini to strengthen our team in Grand Bahama," she said.

Forbes added that extra staff was also sent to North Andros last week, and they are still there assisting the team in Andros.

North Andros and Grand Bahama are said to be the islands most affected by the storm.

According to 11th Situation Report from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) - valid up to Thursday at 5 p.m. - two and half day rapid assessments were conducted in West End and the Hawksbill area, which includes Hunter's, Lewis Yard, Mack Town, Beck Town, Pinder's Point.

The report said the immediate needs identified by NEMA's Grand Bahama representative include generators, chain saws, grinding and chipping equipment for fallen trees, water (for the worst hit areas), food, tarps and baby supplies.

In addition the report stated, "Alternative shelter arrangements are required, especially for the residents who have returned to their coastal homes in West End."

Forbes explained that an assessment in New Providence is still being conducted by Social Services, particularly for areas that were hardest hit. She said that she could not comment on how many homes were damaged in New Providence until the assessment was complete.

In New Providence, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) identified the most affected areas being Southern Shores, Bains Town, Yamacraw, Lumumba Lane, Sea Breeze and Misty Gardens, according to CDEMA's report.

"One of the basic needs that we have seen so far is that people need food, water and electricity. Some persons who are vulnerable, they would have Depends and under garments that have gotten waterlogged. So, there are a lot of different issues that individuals are experiencing at this point in time," said Forbes.

She added, "In addition, they are cleaning out their homes and you walk through communities and you see furniture on the outside. We are saying to persons as much as we can to open the windows and doors to get the air through to [eliminate] the mold and mildew growth."

Xian Smith, Guardian Business Reporter