The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

THE government treats Exuma “like a stepchild” according to Phenton Neymour, former FNM candidate for the island.

Speaking yesterday as Exuma remained flooded following last weeks torrential rains, Mr Neymour said that if the government had carried on with the steps planned by its predecessor, the situation would not be so dire.

“I have been personally involved in ensuring that culverts were ready to be installed in key drainage areas in Exuma,” he said.

“However, since the government has taken power, the culverts have been left sitting there, not installed for over a year.

“Exuma would’ve had less flooding if the culverts were installed. That’s $50,000 worth of culverts that was purchased.

“I consider the lack of response to be an indication of government incompetence at addressing the issues faced by citizens. On the island of Exuma, moving from east to west is a major problem because of the flooding. Persons have to go in very large trucks to get across the islands, causing logistical problems. The flooding is stifling the proper administration of the island.

“Right now, the Red Land subdivision is flooded because the government hasn’t fixed the drain there. This whole situation would be much less significant if the government had done their job and responded to the plight of Exumians.”

Mr Neymour also criticised the government for not beginning its assessments of Exuma earlier.

He said: “I was in Exuma touring the island on Saturday morning and the members of the government came on Sunday evening.

“I’m not in office and I don’t have the tools of the government and yet I was there so soon. Where was the government? Exuma is being treated like a stepchild.

“I assessed needs of Exumians when I offered myself for government and I left things in place to be carried out. I left equipment in place but the government would not complete the initiative. Right now, my only request is that the they install the culverts I left behind.”

But the current Member of Parliament for Exuma, Anthony Moss, told the Tribune he was surprised by Mr Neymour’s comments.

He said: “The Deputy Prime Minister and myself did a tour of the area on Sunday along with NEMA officers and personal from social services. We discovered that it wasn’t as bad as 2007 but some areas did receive flooding.”

Regarding the still to be installed culverts, Mr Moss said: “I know we had some areas where culverts were supposed to be installed in order to rectify some problems relating to salt water, but I don’t know of culverts that were supposed to be installed in these areas that received flooding.

“Although we weren’t able to get into persons’ house to assess damages, we have reason to believe that there wasn’t major damages in the homes. I spoke to some residents. They were fearful of a repeat of 2007.

“We put measures in place whereby we arranged for pumps to pump water out of people’s car parking areas. Currently, two pockets of water can be seen going into an area called the Forrest. We are making arrangements to address it by having the water pumped out.”