All over Grand Bahama, Bahamians have slipped into a state of depression as they bemoan their losses brought about by the devastating Hurricane Frances.
The deep emotions are rife as men and women have become homeless overnight and are searching for relief in terms of food and shelter.
Eyewitnesses tell of residents weeping openly and unashamedly in the face of the disaster which befell them.
Hundreds of homes have been destroyed and many others damaged.
Meanwhile, Hurricane relief supplies continue to be sent into Grand Bahama, with the United States Coast Guard spearheading two shipments of supplies to storm-weary residents on the northern island Wednesday.
The supplies were donated by the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster.
Seven members of the U.S. Coast Guard traveled on a C-130 cargo aircraft from Nassau to Grand Bahama carrying relief supplies that consisted of plastic sheeting for the construction of temporary shelters and roof repairs; disaster hygiene kits that contained soap, toothpaste, shampoo, a toothbrush, plastic water containers and water bladder kits for the storage of clean drinking water.
The new U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas John Rood, who organized the effort in conjunction with the Government of the Bahamas, was at the airport on Wednesday before the first Coast Guard flight left.
He said after meeting with Prime Minister Perry Christie on Monday, he immediately made arrangements to help Grand Bahamians get relief supplies.
Discovery Cruise Lines has agreed to ship 60,000 gallons of water per day to Grand Bahama onboard one of its ships.
ﾓWe were working with the Prime Minister and the other ministers the other night until 10:30 discussing the water delivery,ﾒ Mr. Rood said.
ﾓThey had arranged for a cruise ship to come into Freeport and we were talking about what assistance we could provide and we arranged for the water containers and the water bladders just to be a part of the team. I think it has been a real positive process in the relationship between our two governments.ﾒ
He added that he has reached out to Americans that are living in the Bahamas to make donations to the Red Cross Society.
ﾓWe have reached out to over a thousand persons, people on our e-mail distribution system, Americans that live in the Bahamas and we asked them if they want to help out, to make donations to the Red Cross Society,ﾒ Mr. Rood said.
ﾓAlso, we made calls to our employees and we are up to almost ﾠ$1,500 in personal commitments from individuals and these are just persons working at the embassy who want to do their part.ﾒ
Relief items from the United States were distributed to Grand Bahamians Tuesday night. The five shelters opened on various parts of the island received water and other essential items.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell accompanied Mr. Rood at the airport Wednesday during the loading of the first flight by Coast Guard officials.
Minister Mitchell said the government is working feverishly to resolved issues as it relates to crowded shelters in Freeport.
ﾓMany countries have offered assistance and we will be reaching out to them as soon as we know what the specific requirements are,ﾒ he said.
The water that is being sent to Grand Bahama is being distributed by social workers, according to Minister of Social Services and Community Development Melanie Griffin, who was also at the airport Wednesday.
ﾓWe had a team of social workers in the West End area,ﾒ she said. ﾓOn the first day we were able to get in there, we did an initial assessment and then certainly after that we had a team from New Providence [that] joined them to do more detailed work.ﾴ
She said the social workers want to bring comfort to persons who were traumatized by the devastation brought by the storm.
Also on hand was Minister of Trade and Industry Leslie Miller, who said he was ﾓoverwhelmedﾒ by the response the government received from the Americans.
ﾓI am grateful for those private American companies that pledged funds to assist with the reconstruction of Grand Bahama, but itﾴs unfortunate that Bahamian private companies have yet to step to the plate in offering monetary assistance,ﾒ he said.
Minister Miller added a Connecticut-based company has shipped $150,000 worth of relief supplies to Grand Bahama.
The company also intends to ship another $150,000 worth of supplies to the Bahamas next week, according to the Minister, who said those supplies will be sent to Abaco, Cat Island, Eleuthera and San Salvador.
Bianca Symonette, The Bahama Journal
