Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism,
Investments and Aviation, the Hon. Chester Cooper headed a delegation of
ministers, senators and parliamentarians who assembled at the four
designated sites in East Grand Bahama on Saturday, September 3, 2022 to
pay homage to the victims of Hurricane Dorian and show their support to
those still grieving.
With the national flag flown at half-mast, it was both a day of rejoicing and
sadness for those who gathered for the wreath laying and memorial
ceremonies on what was the third anniversary of the killer storm’s passage.
The first ceremony took place at the Sir Jack Hayward Bridge where
wreaths were laid by Deputy Prime Minister Cooper, Minister of Social
Services and Urban Development the Hon. Obadiah Wilchcombe, Minister
for Grand Bahama the Hon. Ginger Moxey, Member of Parliament for East
Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson, Grand Bahama Port Authority President
Ian Rolle and members of the Forde family.
About an hour later, wreaths were laid at the Missile Base corner in Free
Town where a beautifully crafted concrete-stone wall, in memory of those
who were lost in that community, had been erected.
Reverend Jacob Cooper, Jr., who served as moderator, recollected that
fateful day three years ago that will forever be etched in his and the minds
of others who decided to wait it out and faced the ferocious roaring
Category 5 storm and its 20-foot surge and lived to tell the tale.
Members of the Bridgewater and Carey families joined Deputy Prime
Minister Cooper, Minister Wilchcombe and Minister Moxey in the laying of
the wreaths.
“Today is a day of rejoicing, mixed with sadness,” he said, as he reminisced
on the last time he and others in the community heard the voice of one of
the victims who was advising radio commentators that the water level was
already at 10 feet and rising.
Following that ceremony, the entourage made their way down to McLean’s
Town and congregated at the memorial site situated just opposite the New
Emmanuel Baptist Church where a similar stone structure had been
constructed.
It was a difficult time for the Thomas and Laing families who were gripped
with grief as they looked on at the stone edifices, which now serve as a
memorial to their lost loved ones.
Pastor Freddie Lang, Jr., who knew the victims from that community
personally, said it was a day filled with mixed emotions.
“We’ve lost our brothers, sisters and close relatives. It really hit home in
every sense of the word. However, we rely on the power and the strength
of the Almighty God to take us through,” he said.
The final stop was at the Bayshore Town entrance in High Rock where the
lives of 17 people were lost. There, the beautiful memorial overlooked the
scenic pristine blue, green serene waters, but still could not calm the world-
wind of emotion that gripped the Pinder, Lightbourne, Cooper, Rolle and
Munnings families taking part in the wreath-laying ceremony.
They were joined by DPM Cooper, Minister Wilchcombe, Minister Moxey,
Minster of State in the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development
Lisa Rahming, Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama, Kwasi
Thompson and Chairman of the Disaster Reconstruction Authority Alex
Storr.
Prayers went up at each site for the families and communities and for
peace for the hearts and minds of those who lost loved ones in the monster
storm, who are still grieving and thanking God for keeping them.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism,Investments and Aviation, the Hon. Chester Cooper headed a delegation ofministers, senators and parliamentarians who assembled at the fourdesignated sites in East Grand Bahama on Saturday, September 3, 2022 topay homage to the victims of Hurricane Dorian and show their support tothose still grieving.
With the national flag flown at half-mast, it was both a day of rejoicing andsadness for those who gathered for the wreath laying and memorialceremonies on what was the third anniversary of the killer storm’s passage.
The first ceremony took place at the Sir Jack Hayward Bridge wherewreaths were laid by Deputy Prime Minister Cooper, Minister of SocialServices and Urban Development the Hon. Obadiah Wilchcombe, Ministerfor Grand Bahama the Hon. Ginger Moxey, Member of Parliament for EastGrand Bahama Kwasi Thompson, Grand Bahama Port Authority PresidentIan Rolle and members of the Forde family.
About an hour later, wreaths were laid at the Missile Base corner in FreeTown where a beautifully crafted concrete-stone wall, in memory of thosewho were lost in that community, had been erected.
Reverend Jacob Cooper, Jr., who served as moderator, recollected thatfateful day three years ago that will forever be etched in his and the mindsof others who decided to wait it out and faced the ferocious roaringCategory 5 storm and its 20-foot surge and lived to tell the tale.
Members of the Bridgewater and Carey families joined Deputy PrimeMinister Cooper, Minister Wilchcombe and Minister Moxey in the laying ofthe wreaths.
“Today is a day of rejoicing, mixed with sadness,” he said, as he reminiscedon the last time he and others in the community heard the voice of one ofthe victims who was advising radio commentators that the water level wasalready at 10 feet and rising.
Following that ceremony, the entourage made their way down to McLean’sTown and congregated at the memorial site situated just opposite the NewEmmanuel Baptist Church where a similar stone structure had beenconstructed.
It was a difficult time for the Thomas and Laing families who were grippedwith grief as they looked on at the stone edifices, which now serve as amemorial to their lost loved ones.
Pastor Freddie Lang, Jr., who knew the victims from that communitypersonally, said it was a day filled with mixed emotions.
“We’ve lost our brothers, sisters and close relatives. It really hit home inevery sense of the word. However, we rely on the power and the strengthof the Almighty God to take us through,” he said.
The final stop was at the Bayshore Town entrance in High Rock where thelives of 17 people were lost. There, the beautiful memorial overlooked thescenic pristine blue, green serene waters, but still could not calm the world-wind of emotion that gripped the Pinder, Lightbourne, Cooper, Rolle andMunnings families taking part in the wreath-laying ceremony.
They were joined by DPM Cooper, Minister Wilchcombe, Minister Moxey,Minster of State in the Ministry of Social Services and Urban DevelopmentLisa Rahming, Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama, KwasiThompson and Chairman of the Disaster Reconstruction Authority AlexStorr.
Prayers went up at each site for the families and communities and forpeace for the hearts and minds of those who lost loved ones in the monsterstorm, who are still grieving and thanking God for keeping them.
