Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Hubert A. Minnis Wednesday commended Opposition Leader, the Hon. Philip “Brave” Davis for his assistance in helping to ensure that Bahamians and residents of the Southern Bahamas were safely evacuated into the capital.

The first group of evacuees arrived at the Domestic Section of the Lynden Pindling International Airport at 9:30am Wednesday morning, September 6, onboard a Bahamasair Jet. The islands of the Southern Bahamas – Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins, Long Cay and Ragged Island – are expected to face the brunt of Hurricane Irma, a dangerous Category 5 Hurricane. Multiple flights were scheduled into the Southern Bahamas all day long Wednesday (by Bahamasair) as part of the emergency evacuation efforts.

Prime Minister Minnis said Mr. Davis’ involvement in the process showed a new kind of “political maturity in The Bahamas.”

“We got great assistance also from the Leader of the Opposition, so I want to thank him for offering his support because this is not a political event, this is a national event, and it shows great maturity when both political parties can get together for one common purpose and that is to save the lives of our people,” Prime Minister Minnis added.

The Prime Minister said it was his belief that it was necessary to involve the Leader of the Opposition as part of ongoing efforts to promote national unity in all spheres of Bahamian life.

“This is a time for national unity,” Prime Minister Minnis said. “In this spirit, I have briefed the Leader of the Opposition on Hurricane Irma. I have also invited the Leader of the Opposition to join me at the Office of the Prime Minister during the preparation for Hurricane Irma and to offer his advice as the country faces the threat posed by this monster hurricane, including during the rescue and recovery stages after the storm passes.”

The evacuations which began in earnest early Wednesday morning, are being viewed as the “largest such evacuations in the history of the country.”

Residents of the Southern Bahamas - Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins, Long Cay (MICAL) – and Ragged Island are at the greatest risk with regards to the severity of the hurricane and have been advised “in the strongest possible terms” to comply with the emergency evacuations as the wind speed, rain and expected storm surge associated with the storm makes Irma a potentially catastrophic hurricane.

“This is history in the making; this has never happened before when you talk about air evacuations into the capital and it is essential that we have involvement of both parties and so I want to thank the Opposition and others who have come onboard in helping to make this a non-political event,” Prime Minister Minnis added.

Prime Minister Minnis said the Government of The Bahamas will continue to work with its partners to ensure the safety of every Bahamian and resident of The Bahamas. He called on members of the public to assist wherever they can.

“We will still need the support of the Bahamian public in donating whatever they can because this is a national event and we need complete national support as we move forward,” Prime Minister Minnis said.

“Hurricane Irma may be one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded. In the days ahead I will call on the goodwill and generosity of Bahamians at home and abroad, and residents to offer whatever they can in terms of volunteerism, monetary and other resources to help those affected by Hurricane Irma.”

By Matt Maura

Bahamas Information Services