The Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium.
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Deputy Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
CONDITIONS at the Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium, which houses more than 1,000 Hurricane Dorian evacuees, was found to be unsatisfactory upon inspection by a group of officials.
According to a National Emergency Management Agency update, the Department of Environmental Health Services, Pan-American Health Organisation and an accompanying vector control team carried out the inspection of the facility.
NEMA did not say when this inspection took place, but it said issues related to “diesel spillage from a standing generator, empty containers holding water, settled water in outdoor public areas and rodent control” were addressed. On Thursday, the agency said 1,056 people were in this emergency shelter.
An inspection of the Fox Hill Community Centre was also done and conditions for the 140 persons there were said to be satisfactory. Its grounds were also treated for rodents.
Clean up in Grand Bahama is also ongoing, NEMA said.
“The Building and Development Services Department says the cleanup of the island continues. As of Friday they will be moving into the Highland Park and the Regency Park to begin clean-up work in those neighbourhoods. The Department is also working with the Power Company to restore the traffic lights firstly in the downtown area.”
As this effort progresses, NEMA is preparing a new warehouse site.
This is a 22,000 square foot facility on Queen’s Highway.
“This new facility will greatly assist NEMA in having a bigger, more permanent location from which to work. After a few days of cleaning, scrubbing and moving around equipment in the warehouse, Commander Daxon reported that they are just about completed.
“Now, we just need the power and water so that NEMA workers and volunteers can begin moving supplies to that facility and begin distributing from there,” NEMA said in an update.
CEO of FOWLCO Logistics, Glenett Fowler said the company is helping to set up the new distribution centre.
FOWLCO is also carrying out logistics work at the Freeport Harbour to ensure that all of the supplies are coming in through the harbour.
In addition to the airport and harbour, they are also assisting with logistics at the Marina at Old Bahama Bay and supply chain management in terms of coordination and information.
Comments
joeblow 5 years, 3 months ago
The vast majority of evacuees in shelters are Haitians. They are getting three meals per day and most won't even clean up after themselves.
I have never heard a Haitian say thanks, they only complain!!
Chucky 5 years, 3 months ago
While I can share and appreciate the sentiment that immigration (much illegal) is taxing our country; I’m not sharing in your vicious lies about Haitians. Haitians in general are more polite , harder working and more civil than most of our people. Your lies about them not cleaning up after themselves are pathetic. I have seen time and time again where Bahamians will sit down eat their lunch and throw the chicken and fish bones at their feet. Then sit in the same place the next day and do the same thing.
Look around, wake up and be honest.
20 years ago there were no where near as many Haitians. Yet half of new providence streets were covers in garbage. A car would break down in cable beach and still be in same place 6 months later.
Wanna be smart, make honest points and statements. It’s legitimate to have opinions against illegal immigration / illegal immigrants, but lies are lies and they do nothing to solve the problem. And these lies ruin our case against the illegal immigration as they appear as racial or xenophobic comments, which never can garner support from anyone.
Use tact and factual argument is you want to help solve this problem.
My2centz 5 years, 3 months ago
First hand accounts at the government complex in Abaco revealed it was unsanitary, and Haitians were using corners as bathrooms. But in all fairness the super dome after Katrina was also nasty beyond belief.
DonAnthony 5 years, 3 months ago
Amen. This storm is bringing to the surface the latent xenophobia that so many Bahamians have. It’s vileness and viciousness is quite surprising, I always knew it was there but it is deep seeded and terrible. Apparently it makes some people feel better about themselves when the falsely denigrate others, the irony is in the process these hateful people are only demeaning themselves.
I live in Long Island and as I have mentioned before there are no Haitians here legal or otherwise as far as I know. Just this morning I cleaned up used condom wrappers presumably thrown from a car in front of my property. It is a daily occurrence to pick up discarded bottles and cans. The sides of our roads are littered. Truth is we have very nasty Bahamians as well and this one can not be blamed on the Haitians.
joeblow 5 years, 3 months ago
@DonAnthony, not xenophobia, just making a point about the ingratitude of those who should not be here and are recipients of most of the aid being doled out!!
My2centz 5 years, 3 months ago
It is also bringing out the worst in our Haitian brethren. I have never heard so many complaints by people who escaped with their lives and are being accommodated same as Bahamians, by Bahamians. Thank you seems to be in short supply.
On social media and the international press, Haitians are giving the perception that only they sufferred as a result of Dorian. I've heard complaints about food not being Haitian food, that juice is being withheld from Haitians as an act of xenophobia, another one needs answers from the Bahamas government while many Bahamians silently accept the unprecedented circumstances and challenges the government is faced with.
joeblow 5 years, 3 months ago
@Chucky ... it is clear that you cannot distinguish between feigned humility and true humility. Pass by the shelters, speak to staff, since it is clear that you have not, and you will learn that what I have written is true, as it always is! This is not xenophobia, since I have personally helped many Haitians in the aftermath of the storm!
stillwaters 5 years, 3 months ago
Compared to where they were brought from.......nuff said!!!!
My2centz 5 years, 3 months ago
The country was not prepared for a category 5 hurricane or to shelter so many people. Of course the conditions are unsatisfactory...but it beats homelessness. Adults should understand this and express more gratitude for the assistance they are receiving, but I’ve heard mostly complaints. Even a 13 year complained about mistreatment to NY Times about not receiving juice, because she is Haitian, should show more appreciation.
The_Oracle 5 years, 3 months ago
NEMA is and will always be hobbled by lack of competency, lack of public trust, lack of funding, and by a constant rollover of the same old appointees pulled from a file drawer of political favors owed, for the most part. So sad. Having said that, there are a few who know what to do, and how to get it done, who can think on their feet while chewing gum.
ThisIsOurs 5 years, 3 months ago
"NEMA did not say when this inspection took place, but it said issues related to “diesel spillage from a standing generator, empty containers holding water, settled water in outdoor public areas and rodent control” were addressed. On Thursday, the agency said 1,056 people were in this emergency shelter.."
empty containers..settled water and rodents? all addressed?..... somebody please take these international people down to arawak cay and tell them they using it as a shelter.
Islandboy100 5 years, 3 months ago
Chucky you got these fancy eloquent talk but because you don't have live among them you say what you said Haitians are filthy and nasty but because they are cheap labor for you you don't care about Bahamians and so you run to defend them while poor Bahamians are exposed to diseases and a filthy environment
ThisIsOurs 5 years, 3 months ago
I have no doubt that there are some Haitians who are filthy and nasty same as there are some Bahamians who are dumb. Our eyes and minds are naturally drawn to the to the things that stand out. Look how out of possibly 200,000 Bahamians Mr Vegas pick up on Sparky and Bannister. It takes more effort/enlightenment/exposure/thought to acknowledge that those people don't represent everybody.
Schemer18 5 years, 3 months ago
Well one see who you are dealing with them shantytowns people, so what do you expect?
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