Grand Bahama Minister tells residents to take the storm seriously

#Freeport, GB, August 30, 2019 – Bahamas – Not wasting time, or as Bahamians would say ‘beating around the bush,’ Minister of State for Grand Bahama, the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson urged residents in Grand Bahama and the Northern Bahamas to make every effort at securing themselves and their property, pointing out that a very dangerous storm, Hurricane Dorian, is currently headed towards them.

The Grand Bahama native was participating in a press conference at the Command Centre of the Office of the Prime Minister in the Harold DeGregory Complex on Friday afternoon, August 30, 2019.

The Minister was joined at the conference by Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Finance, and MP for East Grand Bahama, the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest; Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister and MP for Marco City, the Hon. Michael Pintard; Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister and MP for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, Mrs. Pakesia Parker Edgecombe; and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Works and MP for Central Grand Bahama, Mr. Iram Lewis.

In attendance were officials from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Department of Social Services and Urban Development, Public Hospitals Authority and Ministry of Works, Weather Services, along with Batelco, Grand Bahama Power Company, Grand Bahama Water Company, Grand Bahama Airport Company, Shelter Managers, and Administrators from the City of Freeport, East and West Grand Bahama who discusssed preparations in their areas.

The press conference which lasted about an hour was carried live on Radio and Television/ZNS Northern Service.

Residents were advised to seek shelter, particularly those in low lying areas of East and West Grand Bahama, and other areas prone to flooding.

The Minister also focused on the evacuation notice for persons in Sweetings Cay, Grand Cay, West End, and most of East End.

There are some twelve shelters on the Island of Grand Bahama; residents were also advised that the Convention Centre at the Grand Lucayan has been secured as an additional shelter.

Minister Thompson told residents that this could be a very dangerous storm “and we want to ensure that all residents take this hurricane seriously.  It could have disastrous results for the island of Grand Bahama,” he stated.

He told residents to take seriously the information being given on the storm, and to take necessary action as directed.

By Simon Lewis

Release: BIS

Photo Caption: Hurricane Dorian Press Conference at the Emergency Operation Centre in Grand Bahama, August 30, 2019. 

(BIS Photos)