The business community throughout the settlements of Long Island were among the hardest hit as a result of the devastation of Hurricane Joaquin.

A recent visit to the island provided members of the recently appointed National Disaster Reconstruction Committee an opportunity to inspect businesses, meet with owners, and see face-to-face the impact of the hurricane that ravaged the southern Bahamas in early October.

Committee chairman Nat Beneby said although residents have begun self-help efforts, the greatest opportunity that presently exists is to “jump start” businesses; and the solution to restoration is through public/private partnership.

“Unfortunately, a number of small and medium size businesses did not have hurricane insurance. With the loss of property, inventory and having to rebuild it’s very challenging. Progress is being made. In our discussions with business folks they have already begun that restoration slowly, on a small scale, but you can see some support is needed, he said.

“We will continue to collaborate with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and collectively see how best we can provide that support for the businesses in Long Island.”

Accompanying Mr. Beneby to Long Island and San Salvador consecutively were Gowan Bowe, Mike Maura, and Tracey Knowles, committee members; Captain Stephen Russell, Director of NEMA and Jack Thompson, administrator of the government’s National Recovery and Reconstruction Unit (NRRU).

According to Mr. Beneby, the direct responsibility of the NRRU is managing donations, government contributions and working with NEMA in having accountability, a transparent process and ensuring that reconstruction in the affected southern islands does happen and things are restored to normalcy in a “quick” time.

He noted that an opportunity exists with companies, friends and supporters outside of The Bahamas, the United States in particular, who have expressed a desire to assist.

“They can make donations and receive tax exemptions through the vehicle called 501C. We understand that hundreds of thousands of dollars could be made available to us. Part of accessing that is for this committee to present an accounting and documented process so those persons could be satisfied that the accountability, monitoring, controls, disposition of funds are properly accounted for. Once they see that process, proper auditing and the paper trail in place they are open to helping us,” he said.

“That is one of the major sources of support we are going to be tapping into in short order. We understand also that there are lots of other private donations being directly made in self-help; any number of individuals and businesses providing support that we are aware of but those don’t come directly under the purview of this committee.”

The committee also plans to visit Acklins and Crooked Island and to get a first-hand assessment of the islands since the passage of Hurricane Joaquin.

From left Captain Stephen Russell of the National Emergency Management Agency, Nat Beneby, Chairman of the NDRC and Gowan Bowe, committee member inspect the regatta site in Long Island.

Pictured from left is Gowan Bowe, Captain Stephen Russell of NEMA;  Tracey Knowles, Mike Maura, members of the NDRC; Theresa Boodle-Bethel, island administrator; and Jack Thompson, administrator of the NRRU chatting with Paul Constantakis (fifth from left), a member of the business community in Petty’s, Long Island. (BIS photos/Patrick Hanna)