Seven months after Hurricane Joaquin devastated the southeast islands of The Bahamas, Long Island Member of Parliament Loretta Butler-Turner said the government should give greater thought to what is happening to residents on the Southern Islands.

During her contribution to the debate on the Building Regulation Amendment Bill 2016, in The House of Assembly yesterday morning, Mrs. Butler-Turners cautioned that regulations cannot be put in place until a few concerns, specifically for Long Island, are addressed.

She noted that after the storm, a population of over 3,000 people dwindled down to over 1,000.

“When you live on a remote island or one that seems to be so far away from the central Government of The Bahamas such as Long Island, and you see all of the deficiencies that we actually have in our islands to ensure that these regulations take place. I wonder in fact how the government proposes to ensure that these things happen,” said Mrs. Butler Turner.

The Long Island MP also noted that there is a need for building inspectors on Long Island, among other areas of lack; as she made recommendations to the government.

“I would recommend strongly to the government that while we’re looking at updating building regulations that we do a more holistic approach to The Bahamas,” she said.

“Everything that revolves around these regulations as it relates to the more developed islands, I appreciate it but I have people and buildings within my constituency that have been badly affected by the hurricane and I’m sure if regulations were in place, if inspectors were in place, and carrying out their duties, many of the things that we would’ve experienced would’ve been mitigated,” she continued.

Hundreds of homes were destroyed in the southern islands when Hurricane Joaquin took The Bahamas by storm last October.

The category four storm slammed into Acklins, Crooked Island, Rum Cay, Long Island and San Salvador.