The National Recovery and Reconstruction Unit (NRRU) announced by Prime Minister Perry Christie this week moved into its quarters last Thursday, and while not all the infrastructure needed is yet in place, unit chief and former Road Traffic Controller Jack Thompson told Guardian Business ahead of the publication of the unit's official mandate that the goal is to bring relief - using the resources of the government in addition to non-governmental resources - to those affected by the storm in the shortest time possible.

The new unit was operating on Thursday with a skeleton crew, as far as Guardian Business could discern. Thompson and the other administrators, together with a handful of officers from the Department of Housing. It is understood that the unit's mandate and terms of reference will be published early next week.

However, Christie gave the House of Assembly some details about the unit, which he said was set up to serve as "a long-term point of coordination for the long recovery and restoration which will involve the restoration of public infrastructure, housing and other government installation". The unit - established on Thursday of last week, and now located in The Penn's Building on Tonique Williams-Darling Highway - is tasked to enhance the response, recovery, and restoration efforts of all government agencies in the wake of Hurricane Joaquin.

In addition to Thompson, who presently serves as senior undersecretary in the Office of the Prime Minister and will provide administrative oversight, the unit features former Director of Public Works Melanie Roach as technical coordinator, who together with her team of engineers and architects will give special focus to house repairs and the reconstruction of new homes. Former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Services Barbara Burrows is also part of the unit, heading the non-technical assessment teams. Thompson, who chose not to say much because the unit is still in early days, said Burrows' extensive experience in social services assessment would be critical in the coming days.

The telephone numbers are: 323-4281 and 323-4282.
Its e-mail line is: nrru@bahamas.gov.bs
Additionally, a dedicated website - Operation Recovery 242.com - has been established in addition to other forms of communication to keep the community fully abreast of the recovery and restoration efforts.

Restoration and recovery
Meanwhile, Christie reported that with respect to the restoration and recovery of vital infrastructure, the Ministry of Works and Urban Planning has completed its initial survey of damages to government infrastructure, including roads, causeways and bridges and other government installations, including schools, clinics, official residences, and that this report is "in hand and being analyzed and reviewed for further action." Earlier, the prime minister had pegged the initial damage reports at about $60 million worth.

Christie also told the House that five teams travelled this week to conduct detailed assessments of government buildings and infrastructure: one team including a representative of Civil Aviation Department, The Architectural Studio and JD Chisholm and Associates (quantity surveyors) and two photographers from BIS went to assess the airport terminal buildings at Acklins, Crooked Island, San Salvador and Deadman's Cay Long Island, and four teams made up of representatives of the Ministry of Works, Integrated Building Services (IBS) and Caribbean Coastal Services (CCS) Island Design and Development Co. (IDDC) went to Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador to complete detailed assessments of government buildings and infrastructure.

On their return to Nassau yesterday, the teams were to prepare scopes of works and designs where necessary for the repair or reconstruction of government buildings and infrastructure.

"With the help of the Ministry of Works, a listing of qualified contractors both in the various Family Islands and in New Providence are being compiled to assist with the repair and reconstruction of government buildings and infrastructure," Christie said.

And yesterday, three consulting engineers were expected to travel to Long Island to conduct a survey of the residential structural damage.

Christie said that arrangements would be made for technical teams to travel to Rum Cay, Acklins and Crooked Island for review of structural damage to residences.

"With the assistance of the NRRU, NEMA (the National Emergency Management Agency) is sourcing building materials which will be shipped to the Family Islands to be distributed to persons who have requested and qualified for assistance with building materials only or for building materials and labour. The RBDF will assist with some of the smaller repairs and NEMA and NRRU are compiling a list of contractors and skilled construction craftsmen in the various Family Islands who will be able to assist with labour for repairs," he said.

Compile
The prime minister also said the technical staff of the NRRU, with the help of other government agencies, is compiling the list of homes that will have to be constructed to accommodate those persons whose homes were destroyed and have no source of permanent shelter.

"The Department of Housing has provided designs of housing constructed following previous hurricanes, however, the foundation designs have to be adjusted to account for higher flood levels experienced during Hurricane Joaquin. Local contractors will be given the opportunity to construct the homes in the various Family Islands," Christie said. "It is expected that there will be a close liaison between all of these engineering teams to ensure that there is no overlapping and more importantly that nothing falls between the cracks."

Cost
State Minister for Finance Michael Halkitis has confirmed that the central government does not insure its buildings. That means the government buildings, schools, clinics, official residences of which the prime minister spoke are all to be rebuilt or repaired out of the government's pocket, or at the least, without the benefit of insurance claims. It remains to be seen to what extent the government will use the hundreds of millions in value-added tax (VAT) receipts forecast over the fiscal year in the recovery effort, although gestures such as the $1.7 million gift from Japan certainly mitigate against the government's expenses.

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