Another Hurricane Report:
The Nassau Guardian published that Hurricane Frances was an unruly tourist who aggravated Bahamians by staying for a whole week, destroying things that really did not belong to her. Was she invited or not, this is not the question. She really was a strong and mighty woman who tried knocking everything out of her way and more problems bother residences, second home owners, investors and travelers.
The Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie said the government was trying to avoid becoming panicked and rushing to make requests for international assistance without first having a thorough assessment of the country´s losses. Christie who does not care so much about causing problems to foreign investors will now be speaking with CARICOM members and the Minister of Works has already authorized the request for linesmen from Caribbean countries and Bermuda to come to the Bahamas.
The Bahamas government is more and more well know as a corrupt nation and up to now not willing to sign to come for actual appropriate bilateral investment assistance contracts and also for compulsory investment protection contracts. The Bahamian government is asked since years from many interested states the corresponding drafts for examination. They openly report in addition, that in the foreseeable time one should not expect any reaction on the part of the island state. The dangers for foreign investors become so clear in particular an the European Union which is asked for 25 Million Dollars should put a bit more pressure on this little island nation.
In fact besides the damage that hurricane Frances caused to buildings and infrastructure (electricity, telephone, water supply, gas lines) there are many health concerns that a hurricane arise. Many could lead to severe ill health and even death for instance. health and safety can be threatened by water quality, the manner in which food is handled, basic hygienic practices, outbreaks of communicable diseases, chemical hazards, increase in the number of mosquitoes in the environment, and even stress and trauma that occur as a result of the crisis.
Cruise lines started already to bring tourists to the Bahamas whereas in certain aeras there are shortages of safe drinking water. Tourists should be warned specially concerning statements of the Bahamian government which are not always altogether true but travelers have take over also own responsabilities.
After a hurricane we have always high risks that contaminated water is used to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, or make ice. Bahamas Consult warns of conch poisoning if you eat at fish stand at Potter´s Cay or Arawak Cay for instance. Rates of diseases that were present before a hurricane may increase because of a lack of sanitation.
Here are some more advices: Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with contaminated floodwater. Potter´s Cay at the foot of the Paradise Island bridge is known for certain odors since years. Generally if there is flooding along with a hurricane, the waters may contain fecal material from overflowing sewage systems and agricultural and industrial waste. Two sewerage tanks are next to Nassau´s Bridge to the Atlantis Resort and Casino. Rain and flooding may lead also to an increase in mosquitoes.
The new U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas John Rood is discussing with the Bahamas Prime Minister and the other ministers the addional water deliveries. Turning his attention to the sea, David Johnson, Deputy Director General of Tourism in Grand Bahama said the harbour is now open, as boat operators primarily have used their vessels to assist in bringing supplies to the island for the past several days. Discovery Cruise Lines has agreed to ship 60,000 gallons of water per day to Grand Bahama onboard one of its ships.
Mr Laville from the Water & Sewerage Corporation said that staff along with Prime Minister Perry Christie and several Cabinet members visited some of the islands affected to conduct preliminary assessments. They are also working with the Bahamas Electricity Corportaion to re-establish the range lights so that shipping operations can come back to a hundred percent. Wellfields in North Anrdos are presently at 50 per cent capacity. One area is totally flooded...all of the electrical motors are underwater. So it will be some time before that is re-established and we are awaiting an assessment from our electrician as to when we can safely re-establish supply, he said. It will need weeks and months untill Bahamas vacationers can expect that everything is back to normal.
The Bahamas Reporter
Harald Fuhrmann
Bahamas Consult
www.the-bahamas.de
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