The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahamians impacted by Hurricane Matthew were told by one of their own to remain encouraged and not give up as they begin to rebuild their lives.

Andrew Forbes, an entrepreneur based in Freeport, told The Tribune on Sunday that residents are down but not out.

The founder of Events by Creme de la Creme said the island had spent “the better part of about 12 years trying to rebuild since the hurricanes of 2004” and was saddened that his community is having to relive the trauma again.

“We’d been making some headway but sluggishly. However we hadn’t fully rebounded economically,” Mr Forbes said.

“Some of us still carry the mental stress and the pain from the massive loss of property. Even as it relates to the landscape, Grand Bahama is one of those islands that has always been known for its beauty. And the storm that approached Grand Bahama on Thursday - Matthew - here it is 12 years later in 2016 has brought back so many fresh memories and has opened up wounds that have not even properly healed.

“As I ride through the island and I see the level of structural damage and devastation and as I look at some of the residents who are pretty much standing in there front yards and walking along the streets just looking lost, as where to go from here and how to start over, it’s quite the blow,” he admitted.

“I can only encourage everyone that we have to bounce back. We have to continue to try restore magic to ‘Magic City,’” he stressed.

The island has struggled to grow its economy since the passing of Hurricanes Jeanne and Frances in September 2004.

The economic dilemma was intensified by the global financial crisis in 2008.

Hurricane Matthew damaged more than 90 per cent of the buildings in the Eight Mile Rock and Holmes Rock areas.

A senior police officer told The Tribune on Friday that more than 72 homes reported experiencing significant roof damage from Matthew although that did not include the western area of the island, which also experienced destruction.

Mr Forbes said he too suffered damage to his office studio and inventory “but above all we still have life which is most important.”

“The physical things, as hard as we work for them, as much as we cherish them, they pale in comparison to the treasure and jewel that is life itself,” he said. “So we’ll begin the rebuilding process to move forward. We may be down but we’re not out and so we’re going to do our best to move forward and help as many people as we can in the process as we help ourselves.”