Bahamas PM: “We Are A Nation In Mourning”
“We are a nation in mourning,” said Bahamas Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis as he reflected on the catastrophic devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian.
“Dorian flattened homes after it made landfall September 1, killing at least 50 people, officials said. The death toll is expected to go up as search and rescue crews scour the ruins in Grand Bahama and Abaco islands,” CNN reported.
Bahamas Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis announced plans for a National Prayer Service to honour the lives lost to Hurricane Dorian, with the event set to take place on September 18th.
“Flags are also to be flown at half-mast on all public buildings to mourn the dead. The date of a National Day of Mourning will be announced at an appropriate time,” a statement from the Bahamian Government said.
“We are a nation in mourning,” said Prime Minister Minnis. “The grief is unbearable following the devastating impact of Hurricane Dorian, which has left behind death, destruction and despair on Grand Bahama and Abaco, our second and third most populous islands.”
“Many are grieving the loss of loved ones. Many are in despair wondering if their loved ones are still alive.
“To those who have lost loved ones, I know there is absolutely nothing we can say that will lessen your pain and your loss. Our sympathies go out to the families of each person who died. Let us pray for them during this time of grief.”
“Hurricane Dorian is an historic tragedy,” said Prime Minister Minnis, noting a report by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency [CDEMA] that described the storm as the “strongest Atlantic hurricane documented to directly impact a land mass since records began, tying it with the Great Florida Labor Day Hurricane of 1935.”
The report also noted that Hurricane Dorian “affected the north-western Bahama islands for an approximate total of 68 hours, with the southern eye-wall planted over Grand Bahama, for about 30 hours.”
“We will need as many spiritual resources as we will need physical resources, to rebuild lives and to recover,” said the Prime Minister.
I’d like to see the BDA Gov’t Raise the Bahamian flag onto the Flag pole on Front Street (at half mast)on this “National Day of Mourning” and show the Bahamian people that we cry with them.
What good does this do? They need money and supplies. Work an extra hour at your job if you can and donate it to a charity that is doing vs talking. Proper PM there! Inaction and now sound bites that help no one. Govt response there has been appalling in prep and post. I have shead a tear for them, but a symbolic gesture does no good to anyone.
Many of us have friends and family in the Bahamas. I do hope our Government is helping out and not simply relying on Belco to carry the banner for Bermuda.
Judging from all of the activity last week organized by The Government (Minister Caines, H.E. the Governor, the R.B.R. and the Royal navy) you must have been travelling or living in isolation (under a rock).
How did you not see that the government was not only involved but took the lead.