#Nassau, September 18, 2019 – Bahamas – The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been at the center of the Bahamian government’s emergency response management efforts, leading a coalition of local and international governmental and nongovernmental partners.
During the initial stages of
the emergency response, NEMA and its partners worked diligently to get resources
to the people in the places that needed them most. As the efforts now
transition from the immediate response stage to the recovery stage, security
and rebuilding have played an increasingly important role in the work of NEMA
and its partners, the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence
Force.
In the wake of a large-scale
natural disaster such as Hurricane Dorian, residents have faced unique security
challenges. The RBPF and RBDF have been responsive to that end, combining
efforts to provide general security to the islands’ residents through
conducting mobile patrols and monitoring key locations such as ports of entry
and major population centers.
The armed forces have not only
focused on law enforcement to curtail illegal activities but are also actively
engaged in the process to help communities rebuild. The Bahamian security
forces are receiving additional assistance in this regard from regional
civil-military partners, the Jamaican Defence Force and the Trinidad and Tobago
Defence Force.
More than 300 officers are
currently on the ground, with approximately 65 percent in Abaco and the
remainder in Grand Bahama.
According to NEMA Spokesperson
Carl Smith, the security and rebuilding efforts led by the RBPF and RBDF are an
important part of restoring a sense of normalcy to the affected communities.
He added, “Our police officers and defence force officers are committed to providing a sense of security for the residents of Abaco and Grand Bahama and to those who are assisting with the emergency management response efforts. Thanks to the work of these brave men and women, NEMA and its partners can continue to proactively transition to the next stage of the emergency management response process.”
Release: NEMA