Copyright thenassauguardian
As evacuees from the southeast Bahamas who fled Hurricane Melissa settled into the New Providence Community Church (NPCC), Deputy Prime Minister and Minster of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation Chester Cooper paid the shelter a visit, stressing that officials are hoping for the best possible outcome. “Today, I wanted to come and visit many of the evacuees from the islands along with Mrs. Cooper to really check in, say hello to them, and I was pleased, they all seem to be very comfortable,” Cooper said. “I’m very grateful that we were able to evacuate them here to New Providence. “Naturally, people prefer to be home but they all seem very understanding and we see children and mothers and fathers and communities still together. “People know each other. Most of the people here are from Acklins and some from Inagua. “It’s a good community still here at the NPPC shelter. It seems well-managed.” Hundreds of residents from the islands of Acklins, Inagua, Mayaguana, Ragged Island, and Crooked Island arrived in New Providence on Tuesday ahead of Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic storm that was forecasted to hit the southeast and central Bahamas. Cooper said he hopes that officials will be able to transport evacuees back home as soon as possible. “We are hoping for the best, that there be limited damage to property, and hopefully soon these folks will be able to return home,” Cooper said. Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica on Tuesday. Ahead of the storm, a Bahamasair flight was sent to the island nation to evacuate Bahamian students and other Bahamian residents in the country. Despite the evacuation flight issued, some Bahamians still failed to leave Jamaica in time. Cooper said once the all-clear is given, Bahamasair will resume flights to Jamaica to carry Bahamian students back to the island and to collect Bahamians who rode out Melissa. “We have been in touch with a group who traveled for a wedding,” he said. “Once things settle down, Bahamasair will be going back to Jamaica, certainly to return the students when the all-clear is given. “Hopefully that will be sometime soon depending on the outcome of the aftermath, and we will be offering some assistance as well for Jamaica. “We are hoping once we get the all-clear and the airports are open, we’ll be able to assist those Bahamians as well who have been riding out Melissa there.” Bahamasair currently runs a flight route into Montego Bay, Jamaica. Cooper said officials will determine if any adjustments to the flight schedule will be made once assessments are completed.
