The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

SENIOR Assistant Commissioner of Police Emrick Seymour revealed that there has been a 49 per cent decrease in crime on Grand Bahama since the end of September.

The 400 officers under his charge on Grand Bahama, he said, remain on heightened alert. He assured the public that the police have matters under control and noted that there had been no looting on the island at any time.

Senior ACP Seymour stated that there were incidents of petty theft by individuals who were breaking into homes and businesses stealing items.

“That is not looting, it is housebreaking and shop-breaking, and so reports of looting is utter rubbish,” he said.

He noted that due to significant arrests there has been a reduction of thefts on the island.

Meanwhile, Grand Bahama Minister Dr Michael Darville reported that good progress is being made to restore the essential utilities of power and telecommunications in Grand Bahama.

He told a group of pastors at a special meeting at Pelican Bay Resort on Thursday that 40 per cent of the island’s electricity has been restored, with power supplied to the industrial sector, most businesses in the commercial sector, and various residential areas.

Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC) and EMERA were commended for the work they are doing to restore power after having lost some 2,000 poles during the storm. EMERA has brought more than 200 additional people to help with restoration of power on the island.

Dr Darville also reported that BTC services are up but there are still issues in certain areas.

In regards to public safety, he commended the Royal Bahamas Police and Defence Forces for their support in ensuring safety on the island and dealing with the incidences of petty theft taking place on the island. He noted that there was no looting on the island of Grand Bahama.

Meanwhile, Dr Darville said relief efforts are going quite well, with clean up efforts in Freeport underway by Sanitation Services.

The government, he said, has contracted multiple contractors to remove debris in the areas of East and West Grand Bahama, which is the responsibility of government.

Minister Darville reported that there was no outbreak of infectious diseases on Grand Bahama post Matthew.

“One of the key factors of government was to ensure we did not have an outbreak of infectious diseases as there was surge in the southern parts of the island, but also West End was seriously hit with surge up to 6ft in some areas which brought microscopic crustaceans that began to rot and could create the possibility of rodent infestation and the spread of leptospira. We made sure it didn’t happen and there was no outbreak of any form of infectious disease on Grand Bahama,” he said.

The second phase in the restoration effort is home repair, where the government will be launching technical assessments soon. Grant funding is also being provided for residents affected, and small loans for small and medium size businesses.

Sherrick Martin, assistant controller of the Customs Department in Freeport, reported that the government’s exigency order will continue for a period of 180 days from October 7 to April 4, 2017.

Persons can import goods up to $3,000 without a home consumption entry form. The exigency covers goods, such as building materials, household furniture, fixtures, generators and motor vehicles.

He also noted that residents may purchase building materials duty and VAT free in Freeport from business licensees of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, but they must fill out the necessary exigency forms at NEMA which must be submitted for approval, and presented to the local stores.

Mr Martin reported that to date the Customs Department has seen close to $1 million in imported materials processed and exempted in Grand Bahama.