MINISTER of Social Services and Urban Development Obie Wilchcombe.
By LETRE SWEETING
Tribune Staff Reporter
lsweeting@tribunemedia.net
SOCIAL Services Minister Obie Wilchcombe said he was startled to discover that Local Government is responsible for maintaining firefighting equipment on Family Islands, not the police.
The recent fires on Bimini and the Berry Islands that displaced dozens of residents exposed the inadequate emergency firefighting services on the islands.
Twenty-two Bimini residents were displaced after a fire blazed through homes in Porgy Bay settlement, destroying four structures on March 26th.
Nine days later, a fire in Great Harbour Cay destroyed one home, displacing a family of nine.
Mr Wilchcombe said yesterday: “The truth is we need more (fire equipment), but here is another issue that we have, fire engines on the family islands, local governments are responsible for (them). And so that’s where you have the disconnect sometimes, because (of) who should be maintaining the vehicles.
“So, we have to find a way to ensure that the process works more smoothly, because in Bimini the other day the issue came down to simply three batteries were needed for the fire engine.”
Asked if better communication is needed among government entities, Mr Wilchcombe said: “There are communications, but I believe that there are situations that supersede us and we perhaps overlook because to be honest, it was a startling surprise to me when I was told that. That’s why I don’t blame that on anyone except me. We just overlooked it. We just took it for granted that the police are responsible, but we weren’t aware that it’s not the police in the Family Islands, but they must work together.”
Mr Wilchcombe said his ministry is working to help affected families, but a lack of home insurance has been a hindrance.
“We continue to work to get them back to normalcy, meaning that we want to make sure that there are homes and there is a report to get the homes done,” he said.
“That report is being prepared for us now so that we can have other agencies join in to make sure that the homes can be repaired.
“One of the difficulties that we have in the islands is a lack of insurance. We have to do something about that, speak with the insurance companies or find a way to ensure that individuals who own homes are able to have their homes insured.
“Over in Great Harbour Cay (in The Berry Islands), it’s a situation where we had to get the children back to school this week and my staff worked quickly to get them uniforms to ensure that the children were able to go to school.
“We have to look into the rebuilding of the homes, because just like throughout the islands, there is no insurance.”
Mr Wilchcombe said the Family Islands also need more ambulances.
“In so far as ambulances are concerned, yes, the problem is finding the supply,” he said.
“We have been trying to get ambulances for the islands and the minister has informed us how difficult it is, but we continue to try, because we have to get the apparatus in place.”
More like this story
- Low manpower hindered response in Bimini blaze
- Five families still receiving govt assistance after March Bimini blaze
- Berry Island family homeless after early morning fire
- FAMILIES HOMELESS AFTER BIMINI BLAZE: Fire displaces eleven families as dysfunctional fire apparatus failed to bring it under control
- Pintard: Govt must ration funds better to meet community needs
Comments
birdiestrachan 1 year, 6 months ago
My view is that that local government would be responsible, Local government is not effective just another burden on tax payers
SP 1 year, 6 months ago
SOCIAL Services Minister Obie Wilchcombe's statement that "ambulance supply" was the problem is disingenuous.
There are no shortages of ambulances.
Anyone with half a brain can Google "ambulances for sale" to find innumerable used, and refurbished ambulances for sale, or visit arvambulance.com for new ambulances.
Please stop insulting our intelligence with bullshyt.
ThisIsOurs 1 year, 6 months ago
What do these parliamentarians actually do? They're surprised that people still have outside toilets, they werent aware that shanty were spreading so rapidly, their hands always tied by legal limitations of laws they banged on the desk to pass and now who knew that disaster preparedness wasnt being coordinated? Who could have possibly known? The person in charge of it all? Clearly not.
I wonder if the Happy Easter billboards got put up?
ThisIsOurs 1 year, 6 months ago
"we have to find a way to ensure that the process works more smoothly, because in Bimini the other day the issue came down to simply three batteries were needed for the fire engine.”
Hmmm. I wonder if it would be a good idea to have a Central agency solely responsible for disaster preparedness. Then none of these issues would slip our attention. I mean that would literally be the year round job of everyone at the agency... They should pass that resolution in parliament, call it something cool like National Emergency Management Agency or Disaster Response Agency or come up with something new altogether like Star Wars
moncurcool 1 year, 6 months ago
And these are the people who sit in Cabinet to run the country and clueless like this after all the years they have been there.
Sickened 1 year, 6 months ago
He's just catering to his anti-local government base - like Birdie above. Local government means less power to the power hungry dictatorship that is the PLP. ALL FOR ME BABY! That's their motto. Their followers and the general public can all suck eggs while they get super rich. The sad thing is, even though they become super wealthy they can't spend the money locally because there would be too many questions.
ThisIsOurs 1 year, 6 months ago
Disaster preparedness is one of those th8ngs that has to be centrally coordinated. Whats mind boggling is they gat big NEMA and DRA right there with a full time job to do that. Fires can break out in hurricanes (since hurricane is the only disaster we seem to know about)
JokeyJack 1 year, 6 months ago
In other words, he saying people outside of Nassau re idiots.
hrysippus 1 year, 6 months ago
In the kingdom of the blind the one-eyed man is king. Meanwhile; " startled to discover that Local Government is responsible for maintaining firefighting equipment on Family Islands, " in the kingdom of the dumb the ignorant rule....sigh.
JackArawak 1 year, 6 months ago
And do they provide local government with the financial resources to support and maintain the fire department? I’ll answer for you. No. Talk talk talk and grin at the camera in an Armani suit. That is what the central government does. Pathetic
themessenger 1 year, 6 months ago
They don't call them talking suits for nothing Lol.
birdiestrachan 1 year, 6 months ago
Local government those people live on the island and in the community , the representative for the most part does not , this was the reason for local government , local government is not effective the whole truth and nothing but the truth some kodak moments and that is that full stop
Sickened 1 year, 6 months ago
Local government may not be effective but it is a LOT more efficient and honest than central government. If local government got the budgets they need then you would see a whole bunch of MP's switching to run local governments because that's where the money will be. These crooked MP's would soon take over local governments and fill their pockets.
BONEFISH 1 year, 6 months ago
The Bahamian political elite do not want an effective local government. An effective local government will reduce their political patronage and power. Renward Wells ,the minister for local government in the last administration made this comment.If you have real local government, what will the MPs do.He also said that the report prepared by the committee looking into local government on New Providence, gave the proposed local government officials too much power.
The Bahamians who fly to Florida to shop, don't realize this.All of those cities they love to shop in are governed by local government and not the President of the US and his cabinet.Miami, Fort Lauderdale ,Hialeah and Orlando. Some body made this comment in a text to the morning blend talk show on Guardian Radio this morning.They should do a series of programs to educate the Bahamian people about local government.
sheeprunner12 1 year, 6 months ago
Local government officials have one hand tied behind their back because the Central Government controls the Purse.
The RBPF has a whole Fire Branch in Nassau with many officers and a budget, while the DOLG gives the Family Islands peanuts that cannot buy nor maintain firefighting equipment.
Some islands depend on foreign donors & local volunteers to create a fire brigade, and DOLG may give a token stipend to it. It's a pathetic way to operate in 2023.
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