July 31, 2020
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
In This Issue: July 31, 2020 R Residents Ready for TS 2 R Shelters Ready 3 R Hurricane Isaias 11 R Assistance for Mental Health 14 R Short or Long Hair? 16 R My Kids’ Doc 242 19 R Phenomonal People 21 azine R Bahamian Rum Cake 22 W Mag eekly News A Division of SURGE Publications Residents take advantage of the opportunity to prepare for the approaching Hurricane Isaias. (SURGE Media Photo/Tim Aylen) 1 Residents Ready For Hurricane Isaias By Juelanda Thompson When asked about the response of customers, Martin said “traffic has escalated” since the island Grand Bahama Sun Writer has been threatened with the storm, but we are esidents crowded grocery and hardware stores doing our best to keep everyone sanitized and at R this week in preparation of a hurricane. Despite a social distancing limit. We are only letting in the the lockdown in Grand Bahama, with restrictions maximum of 10 people in a store at a time, so we are lifted so residents can prepare, the sudden rush to managing. the stores for supplies left many pondering whether or not they should brave lines. “Personally, I am taking it as it comes, the government is doing their best and so we are just Still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane trying to do our best”. Dorian in September 2019, the height of urgency and worry seems to be creeping in. CEO of Fowlco Ltd group of companies including The Hardware Center, Glennette Fowler said, “This Luckily for many that shopped at Sawyer’s Fresh is a new company however, we have gotten great Market, they were greeted with a red tent, stretching response from the Grand Bahama community.” for seven to eight feet, that provided some relief from the heat before entering the store. They were closed during lockdown but opened on Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. Customer Lisa Smith said she only stood for Mrs. Fowler said they met a line when they got to only a few minutes. “I work on Wednesday “so we were able to service have been to Sawyers a few hundred customers with plywood and other for about 15 minutes hurricane readiness items. We are trying to assist but being under as much customers as we can, and keep the safety the lockdown is an protocols in place, however, many persons are a bit enjoyment. I think the timid about the storm approaching. Prime Minister is doing “There have been some freight challenges due to the best he can do, covid-19 with regards to getting items. A lot of the some of us don’t listen suppliers are closing down due to the virus so we but he is doing the best have some restrictions with getting certain types of he can do”. plywood. We are trying to have an overstock to be able to serve everyone. It is an ongoing process Do It Center Store Superviser, Hopeful resident, Dwighla Martin. (SURGE Media Livingston Rolle dealing with the global pandemic, but we have been Photo/Tim Aylen) shopping at Cost Right able to get our freight from the local carriers once expressed “Although they have been delivered to the port”. the reason for us being on lock down is a sad one, I am still happy to not spend it alone. The traffic out here is heavy, but everyone must stay prepared for what is to come. We are out here to purchase the necessary items and hope for the best.” While some store managers were reluctant to comment, Do it Center Store Supervisor, Dwighla Martin said after the passing of Hurricane Dorian, no announcement should be taking lightly. “Grand Bahamians are not going to take anything lightly, it doesn’t matter how small the storm is, so everyone is preparing, and we are doing our Plywood and other supplies were purchased by residents in endeavor best to help everyone as best as we can.” preparation for the approaching Hurricane Isaias projected to approach the island on Saturday. (SURGE Media Photo/Tim Aylen) 2 Shelters, Land, And Sea Transport Ready For Potential Hurricane By Juelanda Thompson carried out in Grand Bahama, we just came Grand Bahama Sun Writer out an EOC meeting with all of our various reparations are being made by Ministry support groups, so everyone has been given P of Disaster Preparedness, NEMA, Social their mandate on what to do with respects to Services, and the Meteorology Department being ready. to assist residents for the readiness of the “We will make a call with respect to opening upcoming storm. up our EOC perhaps by Friday afternoon Minister of Disaster Preparedness, no later than Sunday and like I said, even Management and Reconstruction and also though we are not expecting any sort of a Member of Parliament of Central Grand hurricane, we will still be in the position just Bahama the Honorable Iram Lewis, held in the event something shifts. We are mindful a press conference at the Star General of all the Covid-19 protocols and we are building this week, where he highlighted preparing all our shelters. Our shelter workers the activeness of shelters, land and sea are fully aware of the protocol, in fact all the transportation as well as maintenance emergency departments are fully aware. We provisions. are in discussion with Grand Bahama Port Authority City and Maintenance Manager Lewis, along with psychologist Dr. Troy McIntosh and we don’t want any Gregory Swann; Administrator for West unnecessary projectiles on the streets. Grand Bahama Christian Palacious, Chief Meteorological Officer Mr. Orson Nixon and The Minister added even though the debris NEMA Warehouse Supply Officer Tammi may not become the projectile, he does Mitchell all gave updates with respect to their not want to have debris floating all over our departments on the established health and community. safety protocols that are about to be active. The Hurricane is not expected to be a major system; however, Lewis says he and his team are treating it as such to ensure all safety and precautions are in place. “We are working closely with the Met department, the Department of Social Services, the city of Freeport and my colleague ministers in Grand Bahama to ensure that we are in a complete state of readiness. Hurricane shelters are being prepared, further inspections are being 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Meteorologist Informs Public On Hurricane Isaias By Haley Adderley Bimini. It is expected that the disturbance will hit Bimini this Saturday evening into the early Grand Bahama Sun Writer Sunday morning. Rainfall is expected to be s the northwest Bahama islands await “4-8 inches of precipitation in the southeast A the possible impact of Hurricane Isaias, Bahamas, around Inagua, Mayaguana, and chief meteorologist at the Department of the Turks and Caicos Islands.” Meteorology in Freeport, Grand Bahama Residents are warned to stay prepared Orson Nixon brought light to the status of this during hurricane season as the storms are tropical disturbance. unpredictable and can change direction at Mr. Dixon was a any time. part of a press West Grand Bahama Disaster Consultative briefing updating Committee Representative, Administrator residents on Cristian Palacious informed the public that hurricane there are teams in place inspecting the preparation. West Grand Bahama area as the tropical Nixon mentioned disturbance approaches. that as of 11 am These teams “have been assessing who on Thursday, July needs assistance and identify those who 30, 2020, the would need to be evacuated from their Hurricane Isaias homes.” was “located at 18.1 degrees The West Grand Bahama Disaster North and 68.9 Consultative Committee are offering tarps degrees West” and is moving towards to assist persons who still have severe roof the northwest. Isaias is expected to cross damage, upon their inspection. Hispaniola and is expected to push the storm Kristin Palacious, eastward. Residents were asked to make the Administrator for West necessary preparations seeing that the storm Grand Bahama, speaks to the media about is expected to go through the center islands preparations taking place of The Bahamas.” for the communities in West Grand Bahama Due to the mountainous layout of Puerto as Hurricane Isaias Rico, Hispaniola, and Cuba it is expected approaches the that the tropical depression will weaken as it Bahamas, during a passes over these areas. press conference held on Wednesday, July 29, The main concern for the islands that may be 2020 at Star General impacted is rainfall, especially in the western Insurance headquarters in Freeport, Grand areas such as West Grand Bahama and Bahama. (SURGE Media Photo/Tim Aylen) 11 12 13 Assistance For Mental Health Issues Readily Available By Haley Adderley professionals has increased tremendously. Grand Bahama Sun Writer Dr. Swann disclosed that “in the private ith the news of a possible Hurricane sector and the public sector I know that since W or hurricane coming near to The Hurricane Dorian we would have provided Bahamas, Dr. Gregory Swann, coordinating services in excess of 4,000 persons and that for NEMA in conjunction with the Ministry of is a significant spike outside of the normal Health, Department of Psycho, and Social scheme of things.” Services, said there are resources to help The need for mental health services in The alleviate the pressure on the mental health of Bahamas has become apparent, and the the community. public is taking the issue of mental health There is a team in place to help provide the more seriously due to the recent events public with support since Hurricane Dorian following Hurricane Dorian. There are hotlines and the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic.