The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

RELIEF group HeadKnowles has distributed up to $20,000 per week in building supplies to Long Island since it began “Operation Deliverance” earlier this month.

Andrew Knowles, HK co-ordinator, told The Tribune yesterday that the group’s builders have prioritised repairs for the elderly and special needs residents, with oversight of materials distributed to residents who were capable of conducting their own repairs.

“We have a crew working on the ground who are responsible for distributing. The young guys do their own work, so their job is to order supplies, verify supplies, and following up to ensure supplies were actually used. We don’t want to flood the market with the funds we have, so we’re moving slowly and verifying that everyone is being assisted fairly.

“Our priority right now is the elderly, anyone with special needs. We’re working our way south, our challenge was the water so we had to wait for some of that to go down. By Monday we will be measuring some homes in the south too.”

He added: “What we’re looking to do with more funding is to hire locals. It will be at a very low rate but it will be like, help them help themselves. So we can help the economy as well as help people get their homes back.”

HK’s Deliverance operation was made possible by extraordinary public response to the $500,000 target of donations of cash and emergency supplies set by the SOS - Save Our South initiative, coordinated by The Tribune Media Group.

Under the direction of Mr Knowles, owner of Island Cellular, HeadKnowles has established accounts at building suppliers JBR, Tops Lumber and Plumbing and Pinder Enterprises to which people can donate credits towards acquiring the necessary materials.

Mr Knowles explained that teams were not rebuilding homes that had been destroyed or displayed significant structural damage, adding that an all clear will have to be given after official government assessment to ensure areas would not be classified as no-build zones.

Among the elderly residents slated for assistance is Petty’s resident Delbert Darville, who last week recounted his severe loss due to the category-four hurricane.

In an emotional account, the 70-year-old told The Tribune’s Save Our South team that he hoped the storm inspired positive change in the country.

Mr Darville’s home will be repaired in a special effort by Pinder Enterprises, said Mr Knowles, who advised persons that wish to donate specifically to this initiative to speak with Adam Darville.

Hurricane Joaquin battered the central and southern Bahamas for two days earlier this month.

Prime Minister Perry Christie has said that an estimated 836 homes were completely destroyed in the hardest-hit areas of Long Island, San Salvador, Acklins, Crooked Island and Rum Cay.

Yesterday, Mr Knowles underscored the relief group’s commitment to long-term restoration efforts, and the expansion of relief into more southern islands.

“We plan to (get) another team to go to Acklins, but I don’t know anyone up there. We just ordered a trailer so when that comes we hope to go up with a skeleton crew. This can’t be done overnight but with the community, as you keep going you’ll get more help.”

He added: “It’s not just for Long Island, it’s just that we have limited funding. If we get big donors we can get to Acklins.”