Video: Premier Extends Thanks After Hurricane
“What this Island went through last Friday evening and into the early hours of Saturday morning truly was a testing time for us as a Country and as a people. But we came through the other side more resilient than ever, and that is something that every resident should be proud of,” Premier Michael Dunkley said today [Oct 24].
The Premier thanked a number of entities for their work over the storm including the Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Service, the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, the Hospital’s emergency personnel, the Department of Parks, Works & Engineering, BELCO crews, and the EMO Executive.
“And my last note of thanks goes out to all of Bermuda. Thank you to you for preparing yourselves, heeding the advisories and coming together after the storm to help your fellow Bermudians in need,” said the Premier.
Premier Dunkley continued, “I find myself reflecting that it truly could have been a lot worse – but thankfully it wasn’t and amazingly we made it through.
“As devastating as this storm was, it managed to bring out the best in us. We came together… we faced this storm together… and we are continuing to rebuild together. That is a demonstration of strength and unity which should be carried forward.”
“There’s lots of work to be done, and it will require all hands on deck to get the Island fully back to a state of normalcy. I believe that out of these storms a multitude of opportunities have been created for those Bermudians who are looking for work,” continued the Premier.
“In that regard, I am encouraging our business owners in construction, landscaping, or any other industry that will be involved in the long term repair and restoration efforts to make a concerted effort at providing their fellow Bermudians with a chance to work.
“This is an opportunity to continue the good will that has been generated since this storm hit – friend helping friend, neighbour helping neighbour.
“So I am calling on all employers, who have generated work from these storms to provide our Bermudians with an opportunity to help out and participate in rebuilding our Island after this storm.”
The Premier’s full statement follows below:
A week ago today, Bermudians were hunkered down, holding close to loved ones and friends preparing to face head on the power of a Category 3 Hurricane. While we are no strangers to severe storms, last Friday was a bit different.
What this Island went through last Friday evening and into the early hours of Saturday morning truly was a testing time for us as a Country and as a people. But we came through the other side more resilient than ever, and that is something that every resident should be proud of.
So today, as we close out a week that we won’t soon forget, I wanted to use the opportunity to recognise a few individuals for their service pre, during and post Hurricane Gonzalo, as well as share a few timely messages as the important restoration works continue.
First I want to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Bermuda Regiment, some 180 soldiers who as soon as the winds subsided on Saturday morning set about the task of working to clear away debris from the streets to ensure that our roads were clear so that our emergency assessments could get underway.
They also served a critical role in helping residents who had sustained serious infrastructure damage by patching up roves with tarpaulin, clearing away fallen trees from yards, and just generally being present for our residents.
Their presence went a long way in providing a measure of comfort following the storm.
The officers of the Bermuda Police Service, the officers of the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service and the Hospital’s emergency personnel also deserve our thanks.They were on the front lines, serving as a lifeline in some critical and harrowing situations during and post Hurricane Gonzalo, and their emergency response efforts should be roundly commended by our entire community.
The hard working crews from the Department of Parks and Works and Engineering must also be singled out.
They too worked and continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our roadways, parks and beaches were made clear of debris.I had the opportunity to visit the teams at the Marsh Folly Depot this morning and personally thank them for their service not just this past week, but also in the days following Tropical Storm Fay. And a special note of appreciation to the work crews at Belco who today, at this moment continue the arduous and challenging work of restoring power to residents who have been affected by two serious storms.
I know right now to those more than 4,000 customers who are still without power, these may seem like hollow words of reassurance, but I have been kept abreast each day of Belco’s progress and I have also asked many questions about the restoration and can assure you that these men and women are working around the clock to ensure that every last customer has their power restored.
I also must express my gratitude to the Commissioner of Police, my co-chair of the Emergency Measures Organisation and the members of the EMO Executive. This group of focused professionals from the public and private sector, put the needs of the Country and its people first, and ensured that Bermuda was prepared and ready to face this storm. And I want them to know, that it was a pleasure to work alongside them these past two weeks.
At this stage, while the EMO is not formally meeting, we continue to monitor the restoration progress, particularly that of Belco. There is an EMO sub-committee focused on the Belco restoration works, and we are working to ensure that they have the necessary resources they need to aid in reconnecting people.And my last note of thanks goes out to all of Bermuda. Thank you to you for preparing yourselves, heeding the advisories and coming together after the storm to help your fellow Bermudians in need.
Ladies and gentleman, this week, Bermuda has received some significant international attention. In fact, both here and abroad the Island is being widely commended for being up and running in record time following Hurricane Gonzalo.And while this may be true, we must be mindful that in the days and weeks ahead, there are still going to be those residents dealing with the task of repairing damaged homes and replacing property destroyed from this devastating storm.
We cannot forget our neighbours and friends who will still be facing the impact of this storm long after it has gone.
There’s lots of work to be done, and it will require all hands on deck to get the Island fully back to a state of normalcy. I believe that out of these storms a multitude of opportunities have been created for those Bermudians who are looking for work.
In that regard, I am encouraging our business owners in construction, landscaping, or any other industry that will be involved in the long term repair and restoration efforts to make a concerted effort at providing their fellow Bermudians with a chance to work.
This is an opportunity to continue the good will that has been generated since this storm hit – friend helping friend, neighbour helping neighbour.
So I am calling on all employers, who have generated work from these storms to provide our Bermudians with an opportunity to help out and participate in rebuilding our Island after this storm.
Finally ladies and gentlemen, this week like many of you I have often found myself reflecting on last Friday and thinking just how blessed and fortunate we have been. No loss of life, no catastrophic injuries and an Island infrastructure which is relatively in tact.
I find myself reflecting that it truly could have been a lot worse – but thankfully it wasn’t and amazingly we made it through. As devastating as this storm was, it managed to bring out the best in us. We came together… we faced this storm together… and we are continuing to rebuild together.
That is a demonstration of strength and unity which should be carried forward.
Thank you.
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This man never ever met a Camera that he didn’t like.
And they said Ewart was vain. Dunkley makes Ewart look like Ghandi.
But if he remained invisible throughout this and didn’t meet with people assisting with the cleanup , and yes, the media/press does look out for his movements , you’d be saying he didn’t care and was all high and mighty.
You want him to look like a vain failure ? Fine . the rest of us are moving on away from your attitude problems.
yup, damned if you damned if you….. Oh well, you know what I mean.
Humans, sigh
well said !!!! thanks toodle-oo , so tired of negativity
In the words of Micheal Dunkley “What a waste of EFFIN film”
And if he had not done this, the sheeple would have accused of being uncaring and detached…….
at least he gave a word of thanks to us BERMUDIANS unlike many in the past. Well done all
Back from england already?
Better start entering those figures on the gov.travel website…btw why have none of the other ministers entered their travel expenditures for the ny trip yet?
He thanked everyone except for the hard working staff at the airport. The Team went beyond the call of duties to get the airport up and running within hours of both storms!!
Premier Dunkley,we know you and your party have our backs!
It is quite unbelievable how some people will come up with the most idiotic criticism trying in vain to score cheap political points. Our Premier had a need to thank everyone connected with all those many hundreds, and probably thousands of people who helped us through those two dreadful storms. He has said and done exactly the right thing, just as any PLP Premier would have done in exacly the same circumstances. What these folks are trying to do is to make a storm out of a teacup, and that’s all it is – a storm in a teacup.
Thank you Mr. Premier for saying the right thing at the right time.
Hmm. I haven’t heard him thank God yet. Hope he doesn’t think Bermudians changed the force of the storm. Remember it was a category 3/4 not to far from us. God be praised that it went down to a Category 2 over us!
God didnt do it either and there is no way anyone cam prove he did. We weathered the storm and WE cleaned up and helped those in need after. God had nothing to do with it.
By that logic it should have never been ‘allowed’ to hit us at all..let alone 2 storms in the space of a week.
God took the roofs off most of the AME churches here.
‘Tough Love’ provides an interesting point of view about what God does – and maybe does not do. I distintly recall a deeply religous woman on our talk shows blaming the South Asian 2004 tsunami on the fact they “they” are not Christians so it was obvious why God hit ‘em with it!
Now we have God making a last minute decision to reduce the Cat 3/4 about to strike Bermuda to a Cat 2. What a relief! I’ve often wondered how he decides which roof to rip off and which roof to leave alone, presuming it has nothing to do with the skill of the builder! Which tree does he decide to blow down and cause a power blackout or loss of telephone and cable. Does he give special treatment to Christians as opposed to non-Christians. Has anyone ever done a study to see if He picks and chooses the victims of a hurricane, or if He does it at random?
Interesting indeed!
You say things as if you understand how it works. I know that people, worldwide, were praying for the safety of Bermuda. The earth is self operating, finished when God took His rest on the 7th day. Does God intervene when His people pray? Yes, as we see, He does.
I think we get it confused in our heads that He should do what we think is good and right. He is sovereign, in everything, and he doesn’t ask that we understand but trust Him. So yes some roofs and property were damaged, but no life was lost here, but 4 were in London by the same storm. And it was weaker when it reached London.
So yes, I thank God for His mercy towards us. You can act like you don’t need Him if you like. I will bless the Lord for He has truly been good to this little speck on a map.
if that was being blessed …you have me honestly redefining interpretive religion. .
Michael Dunkley demonstrated that he is a true leader during the storm..reassuring, informative and in charge..he will go down as the finest Premier that Bermuda ever had….
“He will go down as the finest Premier Bermuda has ever had”
Lmao!! If you are not on drugs, then maybe you need to be..
I would judge the “the finest Premier that Bermuda ever had” by far more than how the Premier performed during two major storms, but I would give Premier Dunkley full marks for how he handled Fay and “Godzilla”!
Unfortunately, there are far great storms ahead for Bermuda, and it will take a genius to navigate us through these economic storms, but again, Premier Dunkley is making solid progress in steering the ship through difficult waters. But these are early days.
Now you know why he’s thanking us…
CATCH 22
Be Dammed if you do !
Be Dammed if you don’t !
Dam it!…………….. FULL SPEED AHEAD !
CARBORUNDUM ILIGITIMI.
Don’t let the B’s grind you down.
FM 101.1 MUSIC
Playing “Party Music” during Hurricanes on FM 101.1 is not suitable or appropriate.
Many people were under great stress, low tempo music would have gone along way to ease tensions.