The Bahamas must be a nation that prepares in an efficient and effective manner for all possible manmade or natural disasters, according to the Hon. Iram Lewis, Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction.

Mr. Lewis addressed the media, senior Government officials and local and international NGOs on Sunday, March 8, on the objectives of his Ministry and its agencies at a Hurricane Dorian six-month update event hosted by the Bahamas Disaster Reconstruction Authority at Harry C. Moore Library, University of The Bahamas.

Representatives form the Ministry, the Authority, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), utility companies, security forces and NGOs provided updates on their work six months after the storm hit Abaco and Grand Bahama.

NEMA and the Authority fall under Mr. Lewis’ Ministry.

“The ministry and its agencies are proceeding on many fronts engaging in the recovery and reconstruction while at the same time developing the appropriate institutional structures and working with other agencies of the Government, multilateral agencies and the private sector to ensure that the recovery process is resilient,” he said.

“The Government of The Bahamas is committed to the policy that we must build back better.”

The Minister noted that last month a workshop was held with stakeholders to discuss a suitable national recovery policy and plan.

“The ministry and its agencies are proceeding on many fronts engaging in the recovery and reconstruction while at the same time developing the appropriate institutional structures and working with other agencies of the Government, multilateral agencies and the private sector to ensure that the recovery process is resilient,” said Minister Lewis.

This workshop was supported by technical assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the University of the West Indies.

NEMA is the Government agency responsible for disaster preparedness and early response. On the issue of preparedness, Capt. Stephen Russell, Director of NEMA, said that in June 2019 they conducted a tabletop exercise that simulated a Category 5 hurricane hitting New Providence. He said another such exercise is planned for April of this year.

“So again we continue to plan and test for such an event God forbid it does occur,” he said.

As a result of the damage caused by Dorian, Minister Lewis has previously said the Government is considering further hardening the country’s already strong building code. He has also foreshadowed that there will likely be no-build and restrictive building zones in areas prone to the worst types of flooding.

Additionally, he has said there will be heightened enforcement of the building code, as violations could lead to serious injury or death during storms.