Speeches

USAID Hurricane Recovery Program in West End, Grand Bahama

December 22, 2005

 

The Rt. Hon. Perry Christie, Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas; Hon. Shane Gibson, Minister of Housing & National Insurance; Minister Obie Wilchombe, Minister of Tourism; Mr. Sean Hall of USAID, residents of West End; implementers and contractors of the reconstruction activities; colleagues at the U.S. Embassy, friends, distinguished ladies and gentlemen,.....good morning.
 
On September 2^nd, Hurricane Francis struck the Bahamas and passed directly over Grand Bahama.  This hurricane caused two deaths and affected well over 8,000 people in Grand Bahama Island.
 
Just three weeks after Hurricane Francis, Hurricane Jeanne made landfall in the Bahamas, causing more damage.  The most significant impact was experienced on the Islands of Grand Bahama and Abaco, where hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed.
 
As we all know, West End was one of the most severely impacted settlements on Grand Bahama.
 
Roofs were lost, some structures completely collapsed and the storm surge caused extensive flooding.  In some areas, floodwaters rose to more than six feet.  This community became a scene of utter devastation.
 
The United States initially responded to the disaster with temporary shelters, water purification systems, disaster relief supplies shipped from Florida, and $150,000 to pay for immediate disaster assistance.
 
In July 2005, the United States Government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of The Bahamas to provide $500,000 in support of hurricane recovery efforts.
 
USAID has been working closely with the Ministry of Housing and NEMA to construct 19 houses.  In this cooperative effort, the Government of The Bahamas provides materials while USAID funds and manages the labor and construction. 
 
This partnership between governmental agencies of the United States and The Bahamas is providing 19 homes for the most vulnerable and needy people in the community of the West End.  “Vulnerability” was based on the following criteria:
 
 
--     The property was occupied by the owner at the time of the hurricane;
--     The owner did not have hurricane insurance coverage;
--     The household has a weekly income of $250.00 or less;
--     The owner has secure tenure.
 
USAID's implementing partner, PADCO, has engaged four local contractors to rebuild the 19 homes.  Eight of these homes have been completed.
 
All of these homes have been constructed to meet hurricane resistant standards and are built on concrete piers to protect against storm surge and flooding.
 
These 19 new homes will benefit as many as 80 people.  Many of these families have been staying in temporary housing or with friends and family.
 
This reconstruction effort is just one example of the types of partnerships that are important to the ongoing relationship between the United States of America and The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
 
We, the United States and The Bahamas, are more than geographical neighbors.  We are economic partners.  We are friends.  We are family.  Or as my good friend Prime Minister Perry Christie often says, we are kin. We must continue to work together for the betterment of our lives, our economies, and our security.
 
This partnership, and the construction of the 19 homes here in West End, demonstrate the theme of USAID's Hurricane Recovery Programs:  "Build Back Better."
 
We can all work at building better, not only in the construction of hurricane resistant homes and other structures, but also in the continual building of the close partnership between the United States and The Bahamas.
 
Thank you for being a part of this celebration. 
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

On behalf of President Bush and the people of the United States of America, I express our heartfelt sympathy to all Bahamians, in particular the families and friends of those who perished in the crash of Chalk's flight 101 on its way to Bimini.  You remain in our thoughts and prayers.