Dame Marguerite Pindling expressed her concern for those residents in the Northwest Bahamas directly affected by the hurricane.

She said the country is fortunate that no lives were lost; and she stressed that the task is now to reunite and rebuild communities.

She added that Hurricane Matthew has provided an opportunity to demonstrate the spirit of oneness and love for our fellow neighbours.

“We have always been well known as a resilient people,” she said.

Dame Marguerite also applauded those teams who risked their lives to save residents endangered by the storm.

“These acts of bravery are very worthy of recognition and I trust that their spirit of care and action can become fully known across our country so that the world will see the concern and care which our people have for each other,” she added.

“I take this opportunity to applaud the National Emergency Management Agency as well as all the other organisations which have come forward under the government’s mandate to begin the task of rebuilding and redeveloping our communities,” she said.