One of the homes constructed in Dunmore, Long Island, by builder Clayton Smith and friends of Exuma from the United States. The donors constructed two homes, which were destroyed by Hurricane Joaquin in October 2015. Pictured out front are students of the Morrisville Primary School, who sang, “It’s a great day to serve the Lord,” during the handover ceremony on Wednesday, March 2, 2016.
(BIS Photos/Lindsay Thompson)
Receiving the keys to newly-built homes, mortgage free, was a great day for two residents of this settlement whose homes were destroyed by the catastrophic Hurricane Joaquin in October 2015.
Lee Wallace, 89, and her granddaughter Melony McIntosh, a 40-year-old mother of two, were the recipients of homes built by Four Cs Adventures of Exuma and friends from the United States of America.
On Wednesday, March 2, 2016, a team comprising the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Local Government officials, the contractor, builders from Exuma and other guests assembled for the ‘handover of keys,’ deemed “It’s a great day to serve the Lord.”
Since the destruction of their homes during the passage of Hurricane Joaquin through the Central and Southeast Bahamas last year, the grandmother lived with family members and her granddaughter in one of the mobile homes sent to alleviate temporary housing discomfort.
It was quite obvious that walking through the doors of their two-bedroom homes was the silver lining to the dark clouds, which engulfed Long Island during and after the storm as residents tried to get back to some sense of normalcy.
Homebuilder Clayton Smith of Four Cs Adventures said he came across the hurricane victims while volunteering on Long Island in the aftermath of the storm. He said he determined immediately that he would assist in some way.
Mr. Smith galvanized workers and Darville Lumber Co. of Exuma, friends of Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the US, a donor from Tennessee of $10,000, and JetBlue airline which flew in the construction workers to the island, free of charge, until the work was completed.
Family Island Administrator Terrece Bootle-Bethel said although the recovery efforts have been overwhelming, it was great to see the homes completed.
To the builder, she said: “I salute you, sir on your volunteerism, your strength and resolve. The Government cannot do it on its own.”
The administrator thanked all those involved in the building of the homes and especially Exuma residents for understanding their obligation to their fellowmen.
Director of NEMA Captain Stephen Russell too was delighted to witness the handover of keys, five six months after the passage of the hurricane. “I have seen the destruction in the islands and it was the hand of God who has been good to us and kept his people.”
Captain Russell recalled when he first met Ms. McIntosh and the distress on her face, having lost so much during the passage of the storm. But on Wednesday it was “great to see a beautiful smile on her face.”
He admonished the new homeowners to take care of their properties; while reassuring that NEMA and its partners will not rest until all homes are completed.
Ms. McIntosh, an employee at the Department of Environmental Health Services, expressed gratitude in response to receiving her new home – a two-bedroom, one bath home. Her grandmother received the same.
After the cutting of the ribbons at the front door to the homes, Fr. Richard Wood of St. Peter’s Anglican Parish blessed the dwellings. The celebration was complemented with a song, “It is a great day to serve the Lord” by the Morrisville Primary School Students.
By Lindsay Thompson
Bahamas Information Services
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