PM Davis ‘eager’ to see small house repairs moved forward quickly

FREEPORT, GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND, BAHAMAS – Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr. Philip Davis, is taking a personal interest in ensuring that homes on Grand Bahama and Abaco receive much-needed repairs in a timely manner.

The Prime Minister visited Abaco and Grand Bahama over the weekend (Friday, August 9 and Saturday, August 10) to meet personally with residents who still need assistance to repair homes damaged by hurricanes over the years. He assured them that their wait will soon be over.

During his visit to Grand Bahama, the country’s leader briefly spoke about the relaunching of the government’s small home renovation program during a press conference held at the Grand Bahama Ministry.

“I want to express my deep gratitude to the people of Grand Bahama for your patience and steadfastness,” Mr. Davis said sincerely. “We know this has been a test as many of your homes have been assessed two or three times.

“This initiative is important to me because what really moved and disturbed me during the West Grand Bahama by-election last November was that in many of the homes I visited, people pointed out to me that nothing had been done to their homes since Hurricanes Matthew, Jeanne, Frances and Wilma struck, despite requests, assessments and promises.

“That was a real shock to me. From that point on, I was asked to make sure these things got done. There was a lot of bureaucratic red tape and hurdles, and I was just cutting through those hurdles to get things done.”

Prime Minister Davis highlighted the complexity of governance, noting that the Government must address many important priorities such as healthcare funding, support for doctors and hospitals, and ensuring quality education through adequate teacher compensation. He stressed that the Government of The Bahamas is committed to meeting the diverse needs of the country and recognizes the importance of balancing multiple key areas.

Prime Minister Davis assured the residents of Abaco and Grand Bahama that the Government remains attentive to their concerns. While there may be challenges in addressing each issue as quickly as possible, he reiterated that their needs are vital and have never been ignored. The Government of the Bahamas remains committed to ensuring that all communities receive the attention and support they deserve.

He further reiterated that the government was facing a financial and economic crisis when he assumed office.

“A lot of things have to be corrected to help the country get back to a better financial position. I have corrected some of the structural deficiencies and based on what I have heard from the people of Abaco and Grand Bahama, I have decided to lead the relaunch of the small home repair program. That is because this program is important to me, to this administration, and you have waited a long time to see results. So, I want to make sure these homes are properly repaired,” he said.

After the press conference, residents of GBI and contractors signed about 40 contracts to get the restoration work started as soon as possible. Residents of Abaco also signed contracts.